By Melissa Richardson and Amy Fielding
While the Victorians might have slipped a freshly picked flower between the pages of a book to preserve its beauty, we recommend using a flower press to get the best results.
Just as you wash your fruits and vegetables before eating them, you need to rinse your grains. Brown rice in particular has been found to contain higher levels of arsenic—a carcinogen—than other grains. Long-term health risks remain unclear, but experts recommend that you wash brown rice, white rice and other grains before cooking.
~ Tip sent in by Shari
Many studies suggest that regular exposure to chemicals found in semi-permanent and permanent dyes may increase cancer risk. Some studies have particularly focused on the potential link between hair dyes and blood cancers—such as leukemia and lymphoma—and bladder cancer. To be safe, let your hair go natural or talk to your hairdresser about safer alternatives.
Looking at the ingredient list in most store bought aloe vera gels, and you’ll find things like drying alcohols, numbing drugs like lidocaine, and synthetic preservatives that can wreak havoc on your body.
Aloe is not necessarily a ‘bad’ culprit. However, with so many options that market ‘pure aloe vera’ it is important to read the labels for accuracy. See where aloe vera falls on the ingredient listing; if it is not the first or second ingredient, it is probably not that high in pure aloe vera. Applying an aloe vera gel may feel good; it is the drying alcohol as a coolant (and harmful for our skin), and a drug to numb the pain. This type of aloe vera gel does not heal the skin; it just covers up the pain from the sunburn.
What is the answer? If you have an aloe vera plant, you are already on your way to skin healing benefits. The gel in the leaf of the aloe plant is high in antioxidant benefits, thus helping to heal the skin from the free radicals affecting it from a sunburn.
The best answer? Sunscreen! You may not feel or know you are sunburned until hours after sun exposure. Be proactive, wear sunscreen, and reapply.
Write-Up is From Daisy Blue Naturals
About Heart Attacks
There are other symptoms of an heart attack besides the pain on the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin , as well as nausea and lots of sweating , however these symptoms may also occur less frequently.
Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack.
The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep, did not wake up.
However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep.
If that happens,immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water.
Afterwards: CALL 911
– say “heart attack!”
– say that you have taken 2 aspirins..
– phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by
– take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and…
DO NOT lie down
There are safer options than spraying.
Especially if you have kids, sunscreen sprays seem like a very good idea in theory. You can get squirmy little ones protected from the sun STAT, and they are so simple to apply that even little kids can do it themselves. With a faster and easier application than lotions it’s no wonder that they make up a big portion of the sunscreen market. Except, there’s a problem—spray sunscreens may not be safe.
“We don’t recommend that consumers use these products,” explains Environmental Working Group’s Senior Scientist Dave Andrews. “There are inhalation concerns as you are breathing in these sunscreen ingredients when you apply them, and it’s difficult to get an adequate coating on your skin to even verify that people are applying an adequate amount.” Manhattan dermatologist Dr. Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas agrees with the concerns: “[These types of sunscreens] are manufactured with phthalates, which is worrisome. They can get into your lungs.”
Foods that can keep sunburns at bay.
Certain foods have been proven to benefit your skin, but can they act as a substantial source of SPF? And do supplements dubbed “edible sunscreen” really work? As a pale person always on the quest for maximum sun protection, I reached out to Dr. Ava Shamban, a Beverly Hills dermatologist and author of Heal Your Skin, to find out if my produce-heavy diet can keep sunburns at bay.
“Some foods have been shown to protect against UV rays and the more of these foods you eat, the better,” says Shamban. “These foods are loaded with antioxidants so they protect you internally as well.” But don’t toss your sunscreen! Foods do not work as well as a topical lotion. “Eating different types of food is not a substitute for sunscreen, but it is a nice supplement,” says Shamban.“Some foods have been shown to improve the repair aspect of the skin and the prevention of damage to the skin, and they also have nutritional benefits and are useful for all of your organs.” Shamban says regular intake can increase your SPF factor up to a 4 or 5. If you’re game, here are the tasty foods to chow down on.
Tomatoes are one such food. “They have lycopene, which can protect the skin against the sun,” she says. “Go to farmers market — the redder you get those are the ones you want to eat.” She says tomato paste has been shown to have high levels of lycopene too, because each jar contains so many concentrated tomatoes.
Another skin saver is dark chocolate. “It contains flavonoids, which have been shown to protect against UV rays and sunburns,” says Shamban. She says studies have shown that if you eat it regularly (done and done) you’ll build up protection in your skin. Just make sure to get the strong stuff — anything that says 80% dark chocolate should do the trick.
Apples also contain protective flavonoids called procyanidins. “Studies have shown it helps reduce skin cancer when exposed to UV rays,” says Shamban. “Quercetin is another potent antioxidant found in apples that protects DNA.”
Lastly, green tea may help you combat the sun. “Polyclonal is a green tea extract that’s very potent at preventing cancer growth internally and externally — and good for the skin, too,” says Shamban. “For summer swap your regular iced tea for an iced green tea.”
~ From the Institute of Natural Healing
But brushing and flossing may not cut it. And if you’re using regular store-bought toothpaste and oral hygiene products, it’s really not enough. In fact, these products can be harmful. Most oral care products come with shady ingredients—like fluoride.
Using natural brands of toothpaste, skipping the fluoride, and flossing every day is a good start. But if you want to create the healthiest, brightest smile you can, here are 5 tricks you’ll never learn from your dentist.
1. Activated charcoal:
We all want white teeth. But bleaching your teeth is dangerous and expensive. Instead, use activated charcoal. It sounds crazy. This is the stuff that filters water and is even a poison remedy in emergency rooms.
But it’s also a little-known teeth-whitener. It pulls toxins and teeth-staining tannins from your mouth. And, more important, it may also prevent these toxins from making their way to your heart. Don’t use regular charcoal. Buy the activated kind that comes in capsules. Open one up and pour the contents onto a damp toothbrush. Brush your teeth and let it sit for a few minutes. Yes, your teeth will turn very, very black. No, it’s not permanent. Rinse thoroughly when you’re done.
2. Coconut oil:
This one’s pretty weird too. But it works. Coconut oil has some pretty miraculous health benefits. It also happens to be antimicrobial, which is great for treating minor wounds and skin conditions. This translates to your mouth, too. Using coconut oil in place of a conventional mouthwash is called “oil-pulling,” a process that kills bacteria naturally. It can kill Streptococcus and Candida, which cause tooth decay, inflammation, and secondary infections in the body. These are some nasty bugs that you don’t want in your mouth—or your heart. Swish a tablespoon of unrefined coconut oil around in your mouth for about 15 minutes to see the benefits for yourself. Don’t swallow the oil when you’re done.
3. Vitamin D3:
You know that the sunshine vitamin fortifies your bones and keeps your hormones in balance. But it also helps to prevent tooth decay. A review of 24 clinical trials between 1920 and 1989 shows that getting enough vitamin D3 lowers risk of tooth decay by 50 percent. The studies include over 3,000 children in six different countries.4 Though its effectiveness has been a subject of debate among dentists, the data doesn’t lie. Foods like wild-caught salmon, eggs, and mushrooms are excellent sources of this vitamin.
4. Probiotics:
Probiotics can work wonders for your dental hygiene. They give good bacteria the tools they need to kill off the harmful kind. You want to stop harmful bacteria in their tracks before they can make their way to your heart. These good bacteria are especially effective at killing Streptococcus, which is responsible for cavities. They’re just as useful for fighting off bad breath and plaque.5 Supplementing with probiotics helps keep your gut and your mouth healthy. If you need some extra help, oral probiotic rinses are available too.
5. Xylitol:
You may already know xylitol as a safe, natural alternative to sugar. But it doesn’t just satisfy your sweet tooth—it actually protects it. Using xylitol in place of sugar in foods and drinks will prevent Streptococcus and other nasty germs from surviving in your mouth.6 You can also sprinkle it right on your toothbrush. This will lead to better breath and less plaque. But even better? It may also help prevent heart disease by keeping bacteria under control. Make sure that you get xylitol that is made from birch bark and not GMO corn.
Following these 5 steps may not make your trips to the dentist any more enjoyable… But it will make them less frequent. They’ll also keep your teeth strong and white while keeping you away from fluoride.
Most important, they may help reduce your risk for heart disease. A cleaner mouth may be the first step towards a healthier heart.
