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Natural Sunburn Relief, Including 5 Home Remedies

AHA Publisher — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 07:00:50 +0000

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN – Summertime: trips to the beach, family cookouts, warm nights and … sunburn? Unfortunately, even if you’ve slathered on sunblock religiously, those UV rays can sneak through and leave you with a painful, itchy red burn. While I believe some sensible sun exposure is essential for your health to prevent vitamin D deficiency, too much of a good thing can lead to damaging sunburn or sun poisoning that could increase your risk of skin cancer and premature wrinkles. If after a long summer day, you’ve spent too much time outdoors under the hot sun, thankfully there are many natural sunburn remedies that actually work. How do you make a sunburn go away fast? If you’re wondering how to treat sunburn fast, you don’t have to go further than your kitchen cabinets with natural sunburn treatments like black tea and oatmeal. Are you fan of essential oils and keep them around your home? If the answer is “yes” then that’s great news since essentials oils are another great form of natural sunburn treatment. What Is a Sunburn? So what is a sunburn, anyway? A standard sunburn definition: inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation especially from sunlight. How long does a sunburn last? Typically, it lasts several days. A sunburn occurs when the sun or another ultraviolet light source hits your unexposed body and exceeds what your skin can handle. This prompts your skin to release melanin, its protective pigment. Here are a few interesting facts: A fair-skinned person can get a sunburn in less than 15 during intense midday sun. It could take hours for a dark-skinned person to get burned in that same type of sun exposure. Interestingly, the sunburn process starts setting in before it’s even visible to the naked eye; the first effects may not show up for several hours. Blisters related to sunburn could take hours to days to develop. It could take a full 24 hours for a sunburn’s full effects to surface. Causes If you spend too much time in the sun without clothing or sunscreen to protect your skin, it can cause your skin to burn or tan. What causes some people to burn while others are more likely to get a suntan? It depends upon the level of a pigment called melanin in the skin. People with fairer skin have less melanin while people with darker skin have more. When the rays of the sun cause damage to the skin, the skin manufacturers more melanin in an effort to protect it from further damage. This causes skin tone to change color. For lighter skinned individuals, the skin is more likely to turn red. Do sunburns turn into a tan? Sometimes a sunburn will naturally turn into a tan if peeling can be avoided. However, you should never allow a sunburn for the sake of hopefully getting a tan eventually because you are damaging your skin! Symptoms Sunburn symptoms include: Skin pinkness or redness Skin that feels warm or hot to the touch Pain and tenderness Sunburn itch Swelling Small fluid-filled blisters, which may break Headache, fever, nausea and fatigue (if you have severe sunburn) A sunburn rash or “sun rash” (hives and blisters on top of a sunburn), sunburn chills or fever, and nausea are all signs of sun poisoning. Diagnosis For your doctor or dermatologist to diagnosis a sunburn, he or she will likely examine your body, ask about your symptoms and history of sun exposure. Conventional Treatment What is the best treatment for sunburn? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, many dermatologists will recommend conventional sunburn treatment that looks something like the following: Take cool baths or showers often to decrease pain. When drying off, leave a small amount of water on the skin and then apply a moisturizer to help trap water in your skin and increase skin hydration. (This is a great natural sunburn remedy, too!) Aloe vera and soy are helpful ingredients to look for in a conventional sunburn cream. If you’re dealing with something worse than a mild sunburn or you’re experiencing discomfort, over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream is another conventional sunburn treatment. Using conventional pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen to decrease sunburn swelling, redness and discomfort. Drink extra water to prevent dehydration. (Also, makes the list of natural sunburn treatments for sure!) If your skin blisters, this means that you have a second degree sunburn. Leave the blisters alone (in other words, do not pop or pick at them!) because they are helping your skin heal and guarding against infection. How long does it take for a sunburn to heal? According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), “Unlike a thermal burn, sunburn is not immediately apparent. Symptoms usually start about four hours after sun exposure, worsen in 24–36 hours, and resolve in 3–5 days.” According to the Mayo Clinic, treating sunburn with even the best sunburn relief does not heal your skin, but it can help to improve pain, swelling and discomfort. Natural Remedies How do you make a sunburn go away fast? If your sunburn is not severe, using home remedies for sunburn promptly and consistently can really help to improve a burn fast. 1. Pantry and Fridge Staples (Used Topically) If you’re trying to figure out how to heal sunburn naturally, you may be surprised to find out that many items in your kitchen can help when used topically! Here are some common food items that can help relieve sunburns: Oatmeal is proven to relieve itchy dry skin and reduce inflammation as burns heal. Enjoy its healing effects by blending dry oats in a blender or food processor until its finely ground and smooth. Add a cup of oatmeal to warm bath water (not hot!) and spend some quality time soaking. Milk can also help to reduce skin pain and heat. You can either create a cold compress by dunking a washcloth in chilled milk and applying it directly to burnt areas or by adding about a cup of cold milk to a cool bath and soaking. Make sure its whole milk so you can benefit from the helpful natural fat content. Black tea isn’t just delicious to drink, it’s also great at reducing sunburn’s redness and quickening the recovery process. In a pitcher, soak a few bags of black tea. You want to do this until the water is super black. Then use a washcloth to apply it to the affected areas and don’t rinse. The tannic acid in the tea, which gives it the dark color, eases the heat and provides much-needed relief. Yogurt contains probiotics and lactic acid, which make it an excellent choice for reducing redness and soothing the skin. Choose a full-fat, plain yogurt and apply it gently on the sunburnt areas. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and then wash off in the shower. Cornstarch can reduce the painful chafing that occurs when your inflamed skin sticks to the bed sheets at night. While using it means you’ll be doing laundry the next day, sprinkling cornstarch over the sheets will reduce friction and create a barrier between your skin and the sheets, allowing for more comfortable sleep during sticky nights if your sunburn is exceptionally painful. 2. Aloe Vera and Coconut Oil When you’re in the midst of your natural sunburn treatment, your body is desperate for moisture. Applying moisturizers like pure coconut oil and aloe vera gel can really help to improve a burn. Aloe vera is so helpful that it’s a common conventional recommendation as well. It’s even sometimes called the “burn plant” because it’s such an effective natural remedy for a bad burn. You can buy a bottle of pure aloe vera or you can use a leaf of an aloe vera plant by splitting it open and applying the sap to your skin. Hint: Store a bottle of aloe or an aloe vera leaf in the refrigerator for an extra blast of soothing coolness upon application. 3. Hydrating Foods There are a lot of natural topical remedies for sunburns, but if you want to know how to get rid of sunburn fast, you don’t want to forget some internal help as well. It’s a great idea to “moisturize” from the inside out by eating foods with high water content. Snack on fruits like oranges and watermelons, which are high in vitamin C and promote healing. In fact, watermelons are about 92 percent water. Also drink plenty of water and electrolyte-rich drinks like coconut water. While healing from sunburn, avoid alcohol and sugary foods, which can increase inflammation and slow down the relief process. 4. Apple Cider Vinegar Did you know that you can use apple cider vinegar for sunburn? You might not smell great, but you’ll likely feel a whole lot better when you include apple cider vinegar (ACV) in your sunburn-fighting routine. Apple cider vinegar uses cover many health areas, but ACV will also soothe burnt skin. Add a cup to a cool bath along with ¼ cup of coconut oil and a few drops of lavender essential oil for a healing soak. No time for a bath? You can also make a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle or dip a washcloth into the solution and dab on the affected areas. 5. Essential Oils They’re not just for helping your home smell nice or easing stress and anxiety, there are also essential oils for sunburn. I recommend two common favorites: Peppermint oil is a natural analgesic, or painkiller. It also helps soothe burnt areas by providing a cooling sensation. Bonus: because peppermint oil is also effective at alleviating headaches, it can help with the after-sun headache some people suffer from. Lavender oil is another essential oil go-to for sunburns. It can help to reduce the sting of burns and decrease redness. With its antioxidant, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, it’s the perfect choice to speed up healing, allowing your body to recover faster. Are you wondering how to treat a sunburn with essential oils? This home remedy for sunburn incorporates both lavender and peppermint essential oils, along with aloe vera juice and coconut oil for sunburn relief. How to Prevent It’s possible to get a burn from the sun even when it’s cloudy or cool outside. It’s also important to note that UV light is stronger at high altitudes and the sun’s rays are easily reflected onto the skin when you’re near sand, water or snow. Key tips for avoiding a burn from sun exposure: Aim to be in the shade if you’re going to spend extensive time outdoors, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are at their strongest. Apply a natural sunscreen to all exposed skin (and make sure your sunscreen isn’t expired). Put on additional sunscreen every 40 to 80 minutes, or sooner if it has washed off from swimming or sweating. Wear clothing and hats to protect skin. Wear sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays. Stay hydrated with non-alcoholic fluids, especially water. Nutrients found in specific foods are also known to help prevent sunburns, often in a time-dependent manner: Vitamin C and E: Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, peppers, guava and broccoli while many nuts like almonds and sunflower seeds are great sources of vitamin E. Beta-carotene: Foods like carrots, pumpkin and sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene. Lycopene: Delicious summer time foods like tomatoes and watermelon are high in lycopene. Fish oil: The sunburn response may be reduced by dietary fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Final Thoughts According to the CDC, you should seek medical attention for a bad sunburn with sunburn blisters that cover over 15 percent of your body, you have a high fever, experience dehydration and/or you feel extreme pain for longer than 48 hours. Of course, it’s always best to avoid sunburns in the first place. However, I don’t advocate completely barring yourself from the sun. Usually a few minutes is all someone needs to get sufficient vitamin...

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DIY Retinol Facial Serum

AHA Publisher — Wed, 04 May 2022 07:00:49 +0000

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN – Although the skin is subject to acne, other skin conditions and aging, as the body’s largest organ, it also has the potential to soak up a lot of healthy vitamins. One of the main vitamins our skin soaks up is vitamin D, which it absorbs from sunlight. The skin can also absorb vitamins from face creams and moisturizers, including retinoids, which contain lots of vitamin A. Retinoids may be the way to healthier, more youthful skin. Read on to learn more about retinoids, retinol cream and how you can make your own homemade retinol facial serum. What Is Retinol Cream? Retinoids and retinol cream products were originally developed in the 1970s as an acne treatment. They also are used as a way to help treat aging skin, psoriasis and warts. Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives. Vitamin A has been known to help with eyesight, and it also helps keep the skin healthy. Retinoids are derived from animal sources and include retinol. Other sources come from carotenoids, originally from plants, and include beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. The major carotenoids are lycopene, lutein, and zeaxantuin, and are filled with antioxidant and photoprotective properties. Retinol face cream has many uses, such as minimizing the appearance of wrinkles, helping keep the skin thicker, maintaining the elasticity of the skin, slowing the breakdown of collagen, which helps keep the skin firm, and lightening those annoying brown spots caused by sun exposure and age. Retinoids can speed up the cell turnover of the skin. This process helps even out skin discoloration and smooths the skin. How to Make Homemade Retinol Facial Serum First, you’ll want to pour some carrot seed oil and rosehip oil into a glass measuring cup (see the full recipe at the end of this article). Carrot seed oil is high in antioxidants and a great natural retinol, and it comes from the seeds of Daucus carota, also known as Queen Anne’s Lace. Rosehip oil is great because it is high in vitamin C and provides anti-aging benefits such as protection from age spots. Next, place a shallow pan on the stove with about two inches of water in it and heat the water on low. Place the measuring cup in the pan, acting as a double-boiler. Now, add the almond oil and the apricot oil. Almond oil is great because it acts as a moisturizer and does not clog pores. Apricot oil is also a great moisturizer while offering vitamin A. Add these ingredients and stir, keeping the heat on low. Add the shea butter and green tea extract. Shea butter will add creaminess to the mixture while providing amazing skin healing benefits. Green tea is known as the anti-aging tea. Green tea extract benefits the skin much in the same way due to its numerous polyphenols it contains. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits include helping reduce acne while fighting the signs of aging. It’s no secret that shea butter is great for the skin. Shea butter is rich in both vitamin A and vitamin E, making it the perfect choice for this anti-aging recipe! Once added, stir until you reach a creamy texture. Lastly, add the anti-aging essential oils, lavender and frankincense. Lavender essential oil does more than relax you; it gives the skin a boost because of its antimicrobial and antioxidant characteristics. Additionally, lavender and frankincense both help reduce age spots. Frankincense also helps eliminate acne, wrinkles and scars. Lemon essential oil contains a ton of vitamin C and while you don’t want to overdo it because the skin can be very sensitive to the potency of pure vitamin C, one drop added to this mixture can offer some amazing skin-glowing benefits by reducing photoaging. Make sure to blend all ingredients well. Remove from heat and allow it to cool. Once cooled, place in a glass container. Using a dark glass container will help it to last longer or you can store it in the fridge. Apply a small amount to the skin at night before bed. Make sure to apply it to clean skin. Use my Homemade Honey Face Wash, then pat dry. Precautions When using retinoid or retinol-based products, it is best to start with applying them every third day. Given that retinoids can cause some initial irritation, it helps to allow the skin to get used to it before going to daily use. Using it at night helps because using it while in the sun can cause sensitivity to the skin. Regardless, you will need to wear an all-natural sunscreen anywhere that you may be applying the retinol cream. If you are pregnant, check with your doctor before using retinol or high doses of vitamin A. Make sure to clean your skin and pat dry before applying the retinol products. To minimize skin irritation, it is best to avoid using with other skin care products — especially if they contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol or salicylic acid. DIY Retinol Facial Serum Recipe Retinoids may be the way to healthier, more youthful skin. Learn how you can make your own homemade retinol facial serum. INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon rosehip seed oil 10 drops carrot seed oil 1 tablespoon almond oil 1 tablespoon apricot oil 1 teaspoon shea butter 10 drops lavender essential oil 10 drops frankincense essential oil 1 drop lemon essential oil small glass measuring cup shallow pan glass storage container INSTRUCTIONS Pour the rosehip oil and carrot seed oil into a glass measuring cup. Place a shallow pan on the stove with about 2 inches of water in it and heat the water on low. Place the measuring cup in the pan, acting as a double-boiler. Add the almond oil and the apricot oil to the oils in the measuring cup. Next, add the shea butter to the mixture. Add the lavender, frankincense and lemon oils and blend well. Remove from heat and allow it to cool. Once cooled, place in a glass container. Apply a small amount to the skin at night before bed. Make sure to apply it to clean, dry skin. NOTES This facial serum should be stable at room temperature for at least a month. For higher temperatures, consider placing in the refrigerator. To read the original article click here.

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4 UNEXPECTED Benefits of Eating Carrots

AHA Publisher — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 07:00:25 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Carrots have a well-deserved reputation as a healthy food that can benefit eyesight. These sweet, crunchy root vegetables are extraordinarily high in beta-carotene, the plant pigment responsible for their brilliant orange color. The body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A, which is essential for vision. And lutein – another plant pigment in carrots – actually reduces the risk of age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in older Americans. While carrots’ most obvious health benefits center on protecting and enhancing vision, they do confer additional gifts – some of which may surprise you! For example, a recent Japanese study revealed that a carrot-based herbal medicine may help prevent a serious complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). And, that’s not all. For more intriguing benefits of carrots, keep reading. Here Is How Carrots Promote Healthy Weight and Improve the Gut Microbiome Carrots, botanically known as Daucus carota, mainly consist of water and carbohydrates. However, this doesn’t mean they lack nutritional value – carrots manage to sneak in quite a few valuable vitamins, minerals and nutrients as well. A 100-gram serving (two medium carrots) provides almost 3 grams of fiber, much of it in the form of the soluble fiber pectin. Along with carrots’ natural sweetness, this makes them a satisfying snack that may help prevent binge eating. In addition, insoluble fibers in carrots – including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignins – help prevent constipation and keep the digestive system moving. But carrots’ main claim to digestive health is that they contain a powerful natural prebiotic known as arabinogalactan. Prebiotics improve the gut microbiome (the community of beneficial microorganisms in the digestive tract) by encouraging “friendly” bacteria – such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. Because the gut microbiome affects immunity, metabolism, and even mood, anything that supports its health is a big “plus.” But Wait, There Are More Benefits! Carrots Even Protect Against Heart Disease By contributing fiber to the diet, carrots help support cardiovascular health. In a scientific review published in Nutrients, researchers noted that adequate fiber intake consistently lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. Dr. Somdat Mahabir – a nutrition and disease expert with the National Institutes of Health – agrees, stating that dietary fiber lowers harmful LDL cholesterol and reduces the risk for developing heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. Fiber may also help to reduce levels of inflammatory molecules such as C-reactive protein. However, carrots’ soluble and insoluble fibers don’t get all the credit for supporting heart health. Carrots are a good source of the essential mineral potassium, which is vital for healthy blood pressure. They also contain vitamin K, which may help to protect against artery-clogging atherosclerosis. Reduce Your Cancer Risk With Carrots One of the most remarkable benefits of carrots is their potential to discourage cancer. Their antioxidant compounds – which include beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and polyacetylenes – can help to scavenge harmful free radicals and prevent the oxidative damage that may trigger cancer. In fact, one study showed that women with high levels of circulating carotenoids were at lower risk of developing breast cancer. (Carrots seem to be protective against cancers of the colon, prostate, and stomach as well). Although experts agree that a diet high in carrots and other antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables helps to prevent cancer, it is possible that carrots may eventually play a role in treating it. In a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Foods, scientists found that carrot juice extracts caused cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (or “cell suicide”) in leukemia cells. The impressed researchers concluded that carrots “may be an excellent source of bioactive chemicals for the treatment of leukemia.” Carrots May Help Prevent a Serious Complication of COPD COPD, which currently affects 16 million Americans, can cause severe difficulty in breathing. In addition, COPD can lead to sarcopenia, or muscle wasting and atrophy. While exercise is the only established treatment for COPD, sarcopenia impairs physical activity – causing further deterioration in lung function and leading to a downward spiral in health and quality of life. However, carrots may be able to come to the rescue. In a promising animal study conducted by researchers at Osaka City University and published in 2020 in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, the team found that a carrot-based Japanese herbal medicine known as “Ninjin’yoeito” helped to prevent muscle atrophy in mice exposed to cigarette smoke. Study leader Professor Kazuhisa Asai called the preparation a potential treatment for COPD-related sarcopenia in humans and expressed hope that the carrot medicine could help break the “vicious cycle of sarcopenia frailty.” And, while raw carrots are a healthy snack, cooked carrots may be even more beneficial – as their beta-carotene is easier for the body to absorb. Consuming some healthy fat along with carrots is also a good way to increase absorbability. Of course, don’t eat carrots if you are allergic to them. Experts report that allergy to birch and/or mugwort pollen may make a carrot allergy more likely. Don’t let the cartoonish orange color and everyday appearance of carrots blind you to their amazing benefits. When it comes to discouraging serious conditions such as obesity, heart disease, cancer, and sarcopenia, carrots appear to be “serious medicine.” Sources for this article include: ScienceDaily.com Healthline.com NIH.gov BrightFocus.org NewsinHealth.NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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The Dangers of Talcum Powder

AHA Publisher — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 07:00:12 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – What role does diet and baby powder play in the development of fibroids and ovarian cancer? If you randomly select a group of women and ultrasound their uterus, most of them have fibroid tumors by age 50—and by most, I mean more than 80 percent of black women and nearly 70 percent of white women. As you can see at 0:23 in my video Talcum Powder and Fibroids, half of the white women in study already had fibroids by their early 40s, while half of the African-American women had them even early, by their mid-30s. After getting over the shock of how widespread fibroids are, the next question becomes, Why the racial disparity? Is it “diet, stress, [or] environmental exposures”? Perhaps the reason could offer a clue as to what causes fibroids. For example, African Americans tend to have lower intakes of fruits and vegetables, and fruits and vegetables appear protective against fibroids. (Citrus are particularly protective, though apparently not just citrus juice, as found in the Black Women’s Health Study.) It’s interesting that if you measure the levels of beta-carotene in fresh surgical tissue samples of uterine fibroids and adjacent normal uterine tissue obtained during hysterectomies, you find significantly lower concentrations in the fibroids. In fact, as you can see at 1:23 in my video, beta-carotene was not even detectable in half the fibroid specimens, and the same was found in cancer: Most cancerous tissues tested had undetectable levels of beta carotene, compared to the normal tissue right next to the tumor. Could it be that decreased levels of beta-carotene somehow play a role in causing these conditions? Sounds like a bit of a stretch, but you don’t know until…you put it to the test. There had never been a randomized controlled clinical trial of fruits and vegetables for fibroids, until… never. Researchers did do a randomized controlled trial of kind-of-a-fruit-and–vegetable-at-the-same-time studying tomatoes for the prevention of fibroids, but they studied fibroids in Japanese quail—as in the birds. That doesn’t really help me help my human, non-quail patients. The action of lycopene, the red pigment in tomatoes, “in an animal model may not accurately represent lycopene action in humans.” And, indeed, the Harvard Nurse’s study found no apparent link between lycopene consumption and fibroids, as you can see at 2:27 in my video. So, yes, fruits and green vegetables at least may have a protective effect, but we won’t know for sure until they’re properly put to the test. Vitamin D level is another possible factor as to why African Americans disproportionately suffer from fibroids, since women with darker skin are more likely to be deficient in the vitamin. As many as 80 percent of black women may have inadequate levels of vitamin D, compared to only one in five white women. Vitamin D does inhibit fibroid cell proliferation, at least in a petri dish, and it may be able to shrink tumors in your pet rat, but what about in people? A population study did find that women with “sufficient vitamin D” levels in their blood had about one-third lower odds of fibroids, consistent with the finding that women who report lots of sun exposure also appear to be protected, but until there’s an interventional trial where women are randomized to vitamin D or a placebo, we won’t know for sure if vitamin D plays a role in fibroid prevention or treatment. African-American women are also more likely to sprinkle baby powder on their genitals, which may not only double the odds of fibroids, but may also increase the risk of ovarian cancer, the deadliest gynecological cancer. Internal memos show Johnson & Johnson knew about the cancer risk, but still decided to target African Americans. In an advertisement depicting an African-American family that you can see at 4:04 in my video, Johnson & Johnson said, “Think of us as a lifetime friend of the family”—perhaps a lifetime cut short by its baby powder. At least that’s what a jury found in 2017 when it awarded a woman $110 million in damages, and that was on top of the $200 million in verdicts from 2016, with thousands of lawsuits pending after internal memos revealed that, decades ago, Johnson & Johnson’s own contracted toxicologists were warning the company there are multiple studies showing a cancer link. “Anyone who denies this risks that the talc industry will be perceived by the public like it perceives the cigarette industry: denying the obvious in the face of all evidence to the contrary.” KEY TAKEAWAYS Fruits and vegetables appear to be protective against fibroids, and African Americans tend to have lower intakes of these plant foods. Fibroids are widespread amongst women, with more than 80 percent of Black women and nearly 70 percent of White women having fibroid tumors by age 50, as determined by uterine ultrasound, and African-American women seeming to get them at an earlier age. When measuring levels of beta-carotene, significantly lower concentrations are typically found in fibroids and cancerous tissues. A randomized controlled clinical trial of fruits and vegetables for fibroids has never been conducted, so, although we know fruits and green vegetables appear to be protective, we cannot know for certain until put to the test in an interventional trial. African Americans may suffer disproportionately from fibroids due to inadequate levels of vitamin D. Sprinkling baby powder on genitals may not only double the odds of fibroids, but also increase ovarian cancer risk, and African American women are more likely to do this than White women. Johnson & Johnson was aware of the cancer risk but, according to internal memos, still chose to target African Americans in its baby powder ad campaigns. Juries have awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in damages in verdicts from lawsuits filed against the company, with thousands more suits pending. This article has been modified. To read the original article click here.

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Lycopene Supplements Put to the Test

AHA Publisher — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 07:00:52 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – High doses of lycopene—the red pigment in tomatoes—were put to the test to see if it could prevent precancerous prostate lesions from turning into full-blown cancer. Back in 1980s, the Adventist Health Study found “strong protective relationships” against prostate cancer with increasing consumption of legumes, citrus, dried fruit, nuts, and tomatoes. In the 1990s, a Harvard study focused attention on tomatoes, which appeared to be “especially beneficial regarding prostate cancer risk.” Researchers suspected it might be the red pigment in tomatoes called lycopene, which has greater antioxidant power than some of the other pigments, such as the orange beta-carotene pigment in carrots and cantaloupes. Lycopene dramatically killsoff prostate cancer cells in a petri dish, even down at the levels you might expect in your bloodstream after just eating some tomatoes. So, not surprisingly, the Heinz ketchup company, along with manufacturers of lycopene supplements, petitioned the FDA to allow them to print health claims on their products. As I discuss in my video Lycopene Supplements vs. Prostate Cancer, they were essentially denied. The FDA said the evidence was “very limited and preliminary” and didn’t allow any endorsements for ketchup or supplements. By that time, further population studies had cast doubt on the lycopene theory. Consumers of high dietary intakes of lycopene didn’t seem to have lower cancer rates after all, but who has high dietary intakes of lycopene? Those who eat the most pizza. So, maybe it’s no surprise there are mixed results. What we needed was to put lycopene to the test. It started with a case study of a 62-year-old man with terminal prostate cancer. Both surgery and chemotherapy had failed. He had metastases all over that had spread to the bone and was sent to hospice to die. So, he took it upon himself to initiate “phytotherapy”—plant-based therapy. Every day, he took the amount of lycopene found in a quarter cup of tomato sauce or a tablespoon of tomato paste. His PSA, a measure of tumor bulk, started out at 365, dropped to 140 the next month, and then down to just 8 the month after that. His metastases started disappearing, and, “at last followup he was asymptomatic”—living happily ever after. When lycopene was given at a higher dose in pill form, however, it didn’t seem to work. A 2013 review of all such lycopene supplement trials failed to support the initial “optimism.” In fact, the researchers were just happy that the lycopene pills didn’t end up causing more cancer, like beta-carotene pills did. Then came 2014. Researchers in Italy had been giving the largest doses they could have of lycopene, selenium, and isolated green tea compounds to men with precancerous prostate lesions, hoping they could prevent full-blown cancer. But, in 2014, the expanded results of a similar trial were published, in which selenium and vitamin E supplements resulted in more cancer. Yikes! So, the researchers in Italy stopped their trial and broke the code to unblind the results. And indeed, those taking high doses of lycopene, green tea catechins, and selenium appeared to get more cancer than those who just got sugar pills. “The potential implications are dramatic,” said the lead researcher, “given the current massive worldwide use of such compounds as alleged preventive supplementations in prostate and other cancers.” What went wrong? Well, after the beta-carotene pill debacle, researchers measured cellular damage at different natural and unnatural doses of beta-carotene, as you can see at 3:32 in my video. At dietary doses, beta-carotene suppressed cellular damage, but at supplemental doses, which are higher, it not only appeared to stop working, but it caused more damage. The same with lycopene. “Both lycopene and [beta]-carotene only afforded protection against DNA damage…at relatively low concentrations”—at the kinds of levels one might see in people eating lots of tomatoes or sweet potatoes. That is, “levels [that] are comparable with those seen in the plasma [blood] of individuals who consume a carotenoid-rich diet.” However, at the kind of blood concentrations that one might get taking pills, “the ability to protect the cells against such oxidative [free radical] damage was rapidly lost” and, indeed, the presence of high levels of beta-carotene and lycopene may actually serve to increase the extent of DNA damage. It’s no wonder high dose lycopene pills didn’t work. Phytochemicals may be “guardians of our health,” but the safety of consuming concentrated extracts is unknown. “The protective benefits of a phytochemical-rich diet are best obtained from frequent consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products”—by whole plant foods. The food industry has different ideas, though. Soon, there may be phytochemical-fortified bacon, martinis, and ice cream, says an article in the journal Food Technology. If they can find just the right mix of plant compounds, it “is not inconceivable that foods that once contributed to illness and disease may be reconstructed…to offer significant health benefits.” To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Greger click here.

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Rosehip Oil: Is It the Ultimate Anti-Aging Oil?

AHA Publisher — Wed, 19 May 2021 07:00:10 +0000

Annie Price, CHHC via Dr. Axe – It’s hard to suggest anything over coconut oil for skin, but rosehip oil — also known as rosehip seed oil — is running a close race with coconut oil when it comes to its benefits for the skin. Rose hips were a remedy used by the ancient Egyptians, Mayans and Native Americans all because of their amazing healing properties, and they were made into a syrup and rationed in Britain during wartime to ensure children’s resistance to infection. The syrup was made from the empty seed cases and also helped provide relief from diarrhea, stomach and menstrual cramps, nausea, and indigestion. Today, it’s getting plenty of attention for its ability to boost skin health and promote healthy aging. As you can see, rosehip oil — which is technically not an essential oil — has many uses that go more than skin deep. What Is Rosehip Oil? Rose essential oil is made from rose petals while rosehip oil, also called rose hip seed oil, comes from the seeds of rose hips. Rose hips are the fruit left behind after a plant has flowered and dropped its petals. Rosehip oil is harvested from the seeds of rose bushes predominately grown in Chile, and it’s full of vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids that are known to correct dark spots and hydrate dry, itchy skin, all while reducing scars and fine lines. By using an organic cold-press extraction process, the oil is separated from the hips and seeds. For facial skin care, rosehip oil offers several benefits when applied externally. It protects the skin and increases cell turnover because it contains beta-carotene (a form of vitamin A) and vitamins C and E, which are all antioxidants that help fight free radicals. Rosehip oil’s healing properties are due to its chemical structure. As noted, it’s rich in healthy fats, but more specifically oleic, palmitic, linoleic and gamma linolenic acid. Rosehip oil contains polyunsaturated fatty acids (vitamin F), which when absorbed through the skin converts to prostaglandins (PGE). PGEs are excellent for skin care because they are involved in cellular membrane and tissue regeneration. It is also one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C, which is another reason why rosehip oil is such a great product for fine lines and overall skin care. Rosehip Oil Benefits for Skin and More 1. Anti-Aging Properties Rosehip oil has significant anti-aging benefits for your face. Super light and non-greasy, this oil’s skin care benefits come from its high antioxidants and ability to penetrate into deeper layers of the skin, where it can improve moisture levels and reduce visible signs of aging. Collagen production naturally slows down as we age, but thanks to the high levels of vitamin C in rose hips, this is an oil that can actually help stimulate collagen production in the skin. In fact, a clinical study published in 2015 reveals that 60 days of topical vitamin C treatment was “highly efficient as a rejuvenation therapy, inducing significant collagen synthesis in all age groups with minimal side effects.” For those who are seeking to avoid chemicals and Botox, rosehip oil may be perfect because of its skin-rejuvenating properties of vitamins C and A and lycopene. This makes adding it into your skin care routine a safer, organic solution to repair the skin’s surface and restore elasticity. 2. Protection from Age Spots The UV rays of the sun can damage the skin, resulting in age spots and hyperpigmentation on the face. The antioxidants found in rosehip oil, especially the combination of vitamins C and E, can help combat free radicals that cause sun damage. Research suggests that these antioxidants can actually reduce the overproduction of pigment in skin, which is exactly what leads to uneven tone and age spots in the first place. It also helps get these antioxidants internally by including them in your diet. Drinking organic rosehip tea, which you can find at health food stores, is a great, easy way to do this. This oil is also deeply moisturizing and aids in removing redness and irritation. These properties also make rosehip oil a possible treatment for rosacea when used as a cold-pressed oil, cream or rosehip-based skin care product. 3. Helps with Stretch Marks and Reduces Acne Scarring The cold-pressed fats found in rosehip oil can help get rid of scars and reduce the appearance of stretch marks by promoting skin regeneration. When applied topically, the fats act as emollients, helping soften the skin while also increasing hydration. Studies indicate that this skin care oil may also help with cases of eczema thanks to its emollient status, which means it can provide a protective barrier to the skin while also smoothing out flakiness. The oil can also help reduce dry scalp and itchiness that are often caused by chemicals in most store-bought shampoos. 4. Boosts the Immune System Rose hips are one of the best plant sources of vitamin C, which helps treat infections and boost immune function. The University of Maryland database points out that rose hips can even be used as a vitamin C supplement. Fresh rose hips, rose hip tea or a rose hip supplement are all great options for keeping the immune system strong. Besides being an antioxidant, vitamin C is responsible for collagen production in the body, which is an important element in the structure of bones and muscles. Reports indicate that the important nutrient also aids in the proper absorption of iron that produces red blood cells. 5. Reduces Inflammation and Helps Arthritis People suffering from arthritis can benefit from using rose hips internally in addition to externally. The Arthritis Foundation reports that rose hips powder is a rich source of vitamin C, and it seems to reduce arthritis-associated inflammation by inhibiting the production of inflammatory enzymes and proteins. What about topical use of rosehip oil for arthritis? There isn’t recent research on this approach, but traditionally, a rose petal infusion was often added to bath water for people suffering from arthritis or rheumatism to relieve symptoms. You may find that adding a little rosehip oil to your bath water or applying it to areas of inflammation helps with this issue. How to Use It Wondering how to use rosehip oil for your skin care routine and more? Start by purchasing a pure, organic product that’s made by a trusted company. You’ll find rosehip oil products in pure oil, cream, powder, tea and capsule forms. Keep in mind that rosehip oil is delicate and can easily go rancid, so it’s important to take great care of it. Oftentimes, vitamin E oil is added to improve shelf life. Keeping it in the refrigerator or stored in a cool, dark location can help prevent rancidity. Though it’s more expensive, cold-pressed rosehip oils are the best products because they haven’t been altered by heat and therefore retain more nutrients. Since rosehip oil classifies as a dry oil, it absorbs quickly into the skin. You can apply the oil directly to the face using gentle, massaging motions or use it in numerous skin care recipes. Here are some easy ways to bring this new oil into your routine: Make organic, DIY lotions and serums, such as this Rosehip Oil Eye Serum for Dark Circles + Puffiness. Apply the oil twice a day to clean skin. To focus on problematic areas, apply only a few drops of oil to a clean cotton ball and dab onto to areas with fine lines, wrinkles or dark spots. Remember that it does not protect against sunburn, so apply a good quality sunscreen afterwards. While it can prevent and reduce acne scars, it should not be applied directly to active acne. If you have acne-prone skin, make sure to test an area first to ensure the product won’t clog your pores, causing unwanted flare-ups. Rosehip seed oil can be used on the face and neck since it absorbs quickly without leaving an oily residue. Just remember you only need two to three drops. Risks and Side Effects Rosehip oil is generally considered safe for topical use. Before using it on larger surface areas, do a small patch test to ensure that you won’t have an adverse reaction. If you notice redness, stinging, itchiness or any other signs of irritation, wash it off and discontinue use. Consult your health care provider before using rosehip oil internally. Although allergic reactions are rare, look out for allergy symptoms like rash, trouble breathing, rapid heart rate, chest discomfort and wheezing. If you are using it internally, keep in mind that it continues high levels of vitamin C, so people with anemia, kidney stones and diabetes should consult their doctors before use. Conclusion Rosehip oil comes from the fruit of the rosebush. These fruits provide important nutrients for skin and more, including healthy fats and vitamin C. You can use roseship oil in your skin care routine to improve your complexion. It can also be used to boost immune function and reduce inflammation. If you’re new to rosehip oil, start by adding a few drops to your favorite skin serum, or simply apply one to two drops to dark spots and fine lines daily. Rosehip Oil: Is It the Ultimate Anti-Aging Oil? Total Time: 5 minutes Serves: Makes several applications INGREDIENTS: 2 ounces organic rosehip oil 15 drops frankincense essential oil 15 drops lavender essential oil Directions: Blend well and place into a small glass jar. Gently massage into the skin of the face at night before going to bed. It is best to make small amounts at a time due to the vulnerability of rosehip oil to rancidity. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Axe click here.

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Sweet Potatoes Increase Vitamin A, Fiber in Bread

AHA Publisher — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 07:00:18 +0000

South Dakota State University via Newswise – Incorporating sweet potato puree into bread not only adds vitamin A, but also changes the starch composition by increasing the fiber content. Altering the starch composition means a greater portion of the carbohydrates will take longer to digest, so consuming a serving of bread is less likely to cause an increase in blood sugar—that can be beneficial for diabetics, according to assistant professor Srinivas Janaswamy of South Dakota State University’s Department of Dairy and Food Science. In addition, the increased amount of fiber, known as resistant starch, can help improve gut health. Approximately 463 million adults worldwide are living with diabetes, according to the International Diabetes Federation. That number is expected to reach 700 million by 2045. Results from lab-scale analyses on how the starch is absorbed and the amount of vitamin A, or beta carotene, available from bread in which 10 to 50% of the wheat flour is replaced with orange-fleshed sweet potato puree were recently published in the Institute of Food Technology’s Journal of Food Science. In summer 2018, Daniel Mbogo, then a research associate at the International Potato Center, worked with Janaswamy to formulate sweet potato-enriched breads through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Borlaug Fellowship Program and CGIAR, a global agricultural research partnership. Mbogo is now a doctoral student at Greenwich University in the United Kingdom. IPC senior food scientist Tawanda Muzhingi, also an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University at Raleigh, contributed to the research. “We hope through the U.S. Agency for International Development to create a laboratory to promote sweet potato research among land grant institutions in the United States and in developing countries,” Muzhingi said. Janaswamy’s research was also supported by U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture funding through the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Bread containing sweet potatoes puree is already being marketed in Kenya and sweet potato-based products are also being developed in the United States, Janaswamy noted. Starch Digestibility The researchers used an established laboratory technique to understand how starch digests, determining the percentages of rapidly digestible starch, slowly digestible starch and resistant starch absorbed over time. Differences in starch absorption between traditional and sweet potato-enriched bread occurred between one and two hours of digestion. In traditional bread, 75% of the starch is rapidly digested, while only 50% is rapidly digested starch when sweet potato puree replaces 50% of the wheat flour. Slowly digested starch decreases from 16.3% in traditional to 9.4% in the sweet potato bread and resistant starch increases significantly from 9% in traditional bread to 41% in sweet potato bread. The amount of starch in sweet potato bread that digests rapidly is significantly lower than that of traditional bread, Janaswamy said. This shift in starch content makes sweet potato bread a good option for diabetics, because the glucose is released more slowly. Furthermore, the sweet potato bread contains more resistant starch, which is fermented in the large intestine where it feeds the good gut bacteria. Vitamin A Availability By simulating digestion in the lab, the researchers evaluated how much beta-carotene is released from the bread matrix and is, therefore, available for the body to absorb from a 100-gram serving of sweet potato-fortified bread. When sweet potato puree replaces 50% of the flour, the bread can provide 82% of a 1- to 3-year old’s daily beta carotene requirement and 62% of a 4- to 8-year-old’s daily requirement. About 30% of children under the age of 5 in developing countries do not consume enough vitamin A, according to the World Health Organization. Furthermore, a serving of 50% sweet potato bread can provide 33% of a pregnant or lactating woman’s daily beta carotene requirement. “By consuming three servings of bread, a woman can get 100% of her vitamin A requirement,” Janaswamy said. Vitamin A helps develop the baby’s heart, eyes and immune system. Urbanization has changed eating habits in Kenya, Mbogo explained. Families once grew the sweet potatoes they consumed. Now, processed foods account for a larger share of their diet. Incorporating the nutrients into the bread they purchase from the store can help prevent vitamin A deficiency. The Kenya Bureau of Standards recently published standards for sweet potato puree and breads, which acknowledges their commercial value and health benefits. In future work, Janaswamy hopes to look at varying the sweet potato bread’s fat content. “Adding fat not only helps the taste profile, but solubilizes the beta-carotene which should result in improved absorption.” To read the original article click here.

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Slash Your Risk of Cancer by Eating More of This Type of Fruit, According to Research

AHA Publisher — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 08:50:04 +0000

Sara Middleton via NaturalHealth365 – According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 125 men and 1 in 417 women will be diagnosed with esophageal cancer. While smoking significantly increases the risk of this potentially deadly disease – which has a 5-year survival rate of less than 50 percent – even people who have never smoked can develop it, especially if they drink a lot of alcohol, have a family history, have chronic acid reflux, or have other recognized risk factors. While esophageal cancer accounts for just 1 percent of all U.S. cancer cases, you still might be wondering how to reduce your cancer risk for this and other conditions. The good news? Protecting your health might involve something as sweet (and delicious) as simply eating more citrus fruit. Eating citrus fruits may LOWER your risk of cancer by nearly 40 percent Eating more oranges, clementines, grapefruits, tangerines, and other citruses may “significantly reduce [your] risk of esophageal cancer,” concluded the authors of a 2015 meta-analysis published in the peer-reviewed journal Medicine. To come to this conclusion, the team of researchers assessed data from 19 studies looking at the link between esophageal cancer and intake of citrus fruits. By design, these studies (cohort and case-control) cannot be used to prove causation, but they are able to clarify the correlation between these two factors. Specifically, it was determined that there was a significantly reduced esophageal cancer risk in people who reported eating more citrus fruits. The researchers’ statistical analysis revealed an odds ratio of 0.63. Odds ratio is used to measure the relationship between exposure to a given variable (e.g., citrus intake) and a given outcome (esophageal cancer). In this case, an odds ratio of 0.63 means that the group who reported the highest level of citrus fruit intake had only 63% of the chances of developing esophageal cancer compared to people who report the lowest amount of citrus fruit. In other words, they were about 37 percent LESS likely to develop the deadly disease. This research is corroborated by plenty of other studies, by the way, including one paper published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention which found that a high intake of green veggies in addition to citrus fruits was also cancer-protective. Citrus fruit has also been shown to reduce the risk of other types of cancer as well, including cancers of the prostate, breast, and pancreas. Here are 3 key cancer-fighting plant properties in citrus fruits, according to science Why is citrus so stellar for fighting cancer? Like other brightly colored plant foods (including green, yellow, orange, and red fruits and veggies), citrus fruits contain at least three bioactive compounds shown to offer health benefits. These include: Beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A and a powerful antioxidant that has also been shown to reduce the risk of a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus (precancerous damage to the lower portion of the esophagus, typically caused by chronic acid reflux) Vitamin C: A varsity-level immune supporter, vitamin C is involved in a number of physiological functions in the body and protects your cells against free radicals and inflammation Folate: an essential B vitamin, folate (or folic acid when in supplement form) is noted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietieics as possibly protective against pancreatic, esophageal, and colorectal cancers, thanks in parts to its ability to make DNA and repair cells The takeaway: Add citrus fruits into your weekly dietary rotation! Enjoy as snacks or topped over green salads. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov, NIH.gov, NIH.gov, Acacemic.oup.com, Cancer.net, Cancer.org, Cancer.org, Myfooddata.com, UW.edu, MSKCC.org, Oncologynutrition.org To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Can Eating Mangoes Reduce Women’s Facial Wrinkles?

AHA Publisher — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 08:00:04 +0000

University of California – Davis via EurekAlert – Mangoes, like other orange fruits and vegetables, are rich in beta-carotene and provide antioxidants that may delay cell damage. A new study from researchers at the University of California, Davis, finds eating Ataulfo mangoes, also known as honey or Champagne mangoes, may have another benefit — reducing facial wrinkles in older women with fairer skin. The study was published in the journal Nutrients. Postmenopausal women who ate a half cup of Ataulfo mangoes four times a week saw a 23 percent decrease in deep wrinkles after two months and a 20 percent decrease after four months. “That’s a significant improvement in wrinkles,” said lead author Vivien Fam, a doctoral student in the UC Davis Department of Nutrition. But the findings are very specific and come with a caveat. “Women who ate a cup and a half of mangoes for the same periods of time saw an increase in wrinkles. This shows that while some mango may be good for skin health, too much of it may not be,” Fam said. Researchers said it’s unclear why consuming more mango would increase the severity of wrinkles but speculate that it may be related to a robust amount of sugar in the larger portion of mangoes. QUANTIFIABLE RESULTS The randomized clinical pilot study involved 28 postmenopausal women with Fitzpatrick skin types II or III (skin that burns more easily than tans). Women were divided into two groups: one group consumed a half cup of mangoes four times a week for four months, and another consumed a cup and a half for the same period of time. Facial wrinkles were evaluated using a high-resolution camera system. “The system we used to analyze wrinkles allowed us to not just visualize wrinkles, but to quantify and measure wrinkles,” said Robert Hackman, professor in the Department of Nutrition and corresponding author of the study. “This is extremely accurate and allowed us to capture more than just the appearance of wrinkles or what the eye might see.” The study looked at the severity, length and width of fine, deep and emerging wrinkles. Fam said the group that consumed a half cup of mangoes saw improvements in all categories. Fam said further research is needed to learn the mechanisms behind the reduction in wrinkles. She said it may be due to the beneficial effects of carotenoids (orange or red plant pigments), and other phytonutrients that could help build collagen. To read the original article click here.

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