For all those who cherish sleep, melatonin is our best friend. It is a natural hormone in our bodies that is released into our blood stream to regulate our sleep cycles. It is also a potent antioxidant, which makes it a friend to our youth as well.

Late at night, after sunset, our body releases melatonin from our pineal gland into our bloodstream. This gives us that relaxing feeling and the permission to get some much needed rest from our day’s work – our bodies way for falling asleep naturally. Melatonin is only released when darkness pervades. Any sunlight or bright lights prevents the release of melatonin. This reality causes shift workers and jetsetters to have an increased need for melatonin. Our melatonin levels also decrease as we age, which presents the need for supplementation as well.

In our modern world of constant work and adored convenience, we have the option of taking melatonin supplements. There are synthetic pills that are said to be bio-identical and safe. There are also animal-based supplements that present more of a hazard due to animal hormones being assimilated into the body tissues. Supplement pills are taken about 30 minutes before bedtime; or on a plane ride crossing time zones, and again a few days while in a new time zone. This is a good way to fall asleep naturally on a long plane trip.

“Overall, research indicates improved sleep when melatonin is taken at the appropriate time for jet lag and shift work. Appropriate dosage and any safety risks will become clear with further research. Melatonin might help shift workers on irregular shifts who need to adjust their schedules. When taken in low doses at the appropriate time, melatonin can help advance or delay the sleep-wake cycle. The effect can last for six hours. When taken in the morning, it may cause fatigue and reduced reaction time, reduced vigilance and decreased vigor during the day. When melatonin was given to people near their normal sleep time, the results differed from one study to the next. When given during the day, it promotes drowsiness and shortens sleep onset.” - National Sleep Foundation

Melatonin supplements are said to be safer than sleeping pills, with their adverse side effects.

“Available trials report that overall adverse effects are not significantly more common with melatonin than placebo.” “In the most extensive clinical trial to date a high dose of 75 milligrams of melatonin per day was given to 1400 women in the Netherlands for up to four years with no ill effects.” (Newsweek, 6 Nov. 1995, 60-63.)

However, there is still concern over the safety of this supplement, since not enough studies have been done to be definitive on its long term effects. There is the question also, of whether prolonged use of melatonin supplements will suppress the body’s natural production of melatonin.

Along with being a helpful sleep aid, melatonin also, “helps control the timing and release of female reproductive hormones. It helps determine when a woman starts to menstruate, the frequency and duration of menstrual cycles, and when a woman stops menstruating (menopause).” The most stimulating research find, is that melatonin is also a potent anti-oxidant and able to protect against the effects of aging and regenerative disease.

A new study published by Reiter and colleagues at the University of Granada in Spain found that melatonin neutralizes the oxidative and inflammation process caused by aging, thereby suggesting that melatonin may play a role in delaying the effects of aging.”

The safest ways to increase your levels of melatonin is through natural means that support your body’s natural rhythms.

• Getting more exposure to sun and natural daylight, increases melatonin output at night.
• Exercise boosts melatonin levels.

Certain foods are rich in melatonin. Cherries are the most abundant. Also, oats, corn, ginger, parsley, nuts and seeds, and ripe tomatoes.

Magnetic Therapy helps to stimulate the body’s own production of melatonin when there is a deficiency.

“The most effective way to increase your melatonin levels is to stimulate your own body to produce more of its own supplies of melatonin. The pineal gland is very responsive to electro magnetic fields. When a strong magnetic field is placed around the head the pineal gland is stimulated to work harder and as a result it produces more melatonin. Over a period of a few days-a couple of weeks (depending on the individual) the body’s melatonin levels will have increased to normal. Once melatonin levels have reached normal the body clock begins to reset itself and insomnia will resolve.

The majority of insomnia sufferers will achieve very good results when using magnets in their pillow every night. Tests have shown that magnetic pillow pads reduce jetlag in long haul flight crews and they have been tested on chronic insomnia patients. The pillow pad must be left inside the pillow case permanently to prevent the body clock from becoming out of alignment again” -Medical Therapy Facts

Melatonin is important for our health and wellbeing. It is safest to work with the body’s natural cycles to improve sleep patterns and supply essential antioxidants. Treating ourselves to adequate sleep rather than staying up all night in the bright party lights, getting adequate exercise and sunlight, and eating wholesome and healing foods are all safe ways to increase our melatonin and improve our health. Supplement pills can also be used for those with extenuating circumstances, with emphasis on being conscious and safe.

We suffer high-stress lives – it only makes sense that we sleep under stress. Everyone would love to get eight hours of good uninterrupted sleep the natural way, but sometimes, good sleep seems like an impossible dream. We worry about finances or health, fret about friends and family, and before we know it, the first sunrays are peeking through the blinds and we feel as though we haven’t slept a wink. Late-night infomercials are quick to recommend all kinds of sleep aids – but what about those of us who aren’t into letting Big Pharma burden us with chemical habits? It’s true: many pharmaceutical sleep aids don’t cause natural sleep but rather bring about a state of sedation. This means that the sleep you are getting is not the body’s natural rest period, but a chemical cloud out of which you may emerge weary and disoriented and feeling as if you never even slept at all.

In contrast, herbal supplements intended to aid you to catch shut-eye can aid the body regain touch with its natural sleep cycles and sleep the healing, wonderful, true sleep that it was meant to. Here’s a few to consider for when thoughts won’t fade, dreams won’t come, and REM seems like just the name of Michael Stipe’s band.

Herbs that can help you sleep:

• Chamomile. People aren’t exactly sure why chamomile puts us to sleep, but it does. Chamomile can be taken as a dried herb, put in a bath, or brewed into a tea – its uses are multifarious and it has a pleasant, mild flavor. (It’s also useful for other things, including hair brightening — as Skrewtips readers know.)
• St. John’s Wort. This was the “it” herb of the 90s, and as a result it’s widely available as a supplement. St. John’s Wort is also a natural antidepressant, which may help to eliminate the stress that is at the root of insomnia – happier people sleep more regularly and restfully.
• Valerian. This herb is particularly helpful when taken over long-term periods to fight insomnia, but some individuals report it working right away. It’s widely available dried and in capsules, and dosage can be adjusted to individual needs. It has a peculiar smell that doesn’t make for a pleasant tea, although an infusion can be brewed.
• Skullcap. Another herb widely used for relaxing and nerve-calming purposes, skullcap’s many different varieties are widely available.

There are many herbs that can help you sleep, but for the “seasoned” insomniac used to the single-pill solution, these herbal remedies won’t seem effective. This is because herbal sleep aids don’t “knock you out” in the same way. The body has to be trained back into its normal sleeping patterns and the process may seem agonizingly long – in these cases, hormonal supplements like melatonin may be provide a little ease. The coenzyme Sam-E is another alternative that’s quickly gaining popularity. But as a long-term solution, herbal sleep aids have many clear benefits: they’re natural, non-addictive, and (most often) comparatively inexpensive. Next time you’re tossing and turning, why not get up and have a cup of chamomile?

Sure, fluoride is said to fight tooth decay. Many kinds of toothpaste out on the market today contain it as a preventative anti-cavity measure, along with harmless ingredients like baking soda and inactive matters. But did you know that by using toothpaste that contains fluoride, you might be contributing to some serious future health problems in you or your children? And that fluoride may not actually be of any help against cavities? After reading this article, I think you’ll be prepared to purchase a safe and effective non fluoride toothpaste.

Fluoride in our drinking water has been around since the Cold War – incidentally since the Manhattan Project began producing an excess of fluoride – and the dangers within it have been written about since. In fact, fluoride has been implicated in several controversial articles, including one report that was supposed to run in a popular magazine but never made it past the censors! Still, for some reason, this substance is found in 60% of American drinking water. How can this be? Let’s look at some of the properties, history, and pros and cons of fluoride.

Fluoride is a reduced form of the element fluorine – a very volatile, highly reactive element in the halogen group. Various fluorides can be useful in medical procedures, and fluoride is thought by the general public to be safe to children’s teeth and bones and especially helpful in the growing process. But now research is showing us that fluoride accumulates in lab rats – and their dosage is much lower, and in shorter periods of time. Furthermore, it causes certain cancers and has been linked to Down’s Syndrome. What are the effects of long-term fluoride consumption in humans? Unknown. Some research exists to indicate that fluoride may contribute to thyroid problems later in life.

Overfluoridation can also cause damage to teeth – the exact opposite of the effect we’re told fluoride has! Called dental fluorosis, the condition is caused by an excess of the substance; its characteristics include the presence of white flecks on teeth and a weakening of the dental surface. In severe form, it leads to brown or dark spots on teeth. Children are especially vulnerable because of their small size and their rapid tooth and bone development – in fact, in 2006 the American Dental Association suggested that babies have their formula prepared with fluoride-free water to avoid fluoride-related problems. How is this not common knowledge?

There are a number of ways to maintain your oral health care without fluoride. Choose fluoride-free toothpaste – if possible, go natural with Tom’s of Maine products (best whitening toothpaste) or similar generics.. Ingredients like baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will clean and neutralize your mouth without accumulating in your system. You should also check out Skrewtips’ variety of articles on natural dental care for some thoughts on making your own mouthwash and incorporating herbs into your oral care routine. Also, you should call your water company and find out their fluoridation levels. Your state’s and/or county’s website should have the required contact information (see here for an example). Stay informed and don’t fall into the fluoride trap!

Colloidal silver, or the liquid suspension of silver particles, was until recently a somewhat obscure homeopathic treatment for various ailments (including joint pain and arthritis). It has recently seen a surge in popularity thanks to the opening of a new customer base through the internet. Colloidal silver benefits have been reported, and it definitely has a strong antibiotic effect. It is one of the most effective pathogen-killing products available on the market, but it is also somewhat controversial. Read below about why.

Colloidal Silver side effects

The most common cause for concern regarding colloidial silver is its cosmetic effect. Regular ingestion of colloidal silver can lead to one noticeable result: it can turn the skin a grayish-blue in large doses. This discoloration, called argyria, is a fairly disconcerting and permanent condition associated with regular colloidal silver use, even though the length of exposure that causes argyria varies greatly with each user (some might never be affected at all; it might take others years to notice any discoloration). The web sites marketing colloidal silver often fail to mention this effect, choosing instead to say that silver has “no known” harmful effects. Indeed, argyria is arguably non-harmful, as it is only a cosmetic effect – however, most people would consider it important enough to effect their decision about colloidal silver use.

Benefits of Colloidal Silver

Colloidal silver’s recorded history goes back to the ninth century. It was used as a preservative and as an antibiotic treatment against various pathogen-involving diseases. More recently, many also placed silver dollars in milk to prolong its life and keep it from spoiling. The silver acted as a germ-killer prior to widely used milk pasteurization techniques. In addition, it has been widely used by everyone from the ancient Greeks to contemporary scientists to treat a variety of infections. Indeed, many argue that since silver has been used medically for thousands of years, most likely it has more benefits than adverse effects. This is probably true; however, due to its status as a supplement, colloidal silver has no regulated dosage. The “blue men” throughout history may have used too much colloidal silver, which led to their unusual appearance. In small doses, colloidal silver seems to be fine, and indeed many people use it regularly.

Colloidal silver seems to have undeniable effects; when placed near a virus in laboratory conditions, for instance, the results are desirable in that the silver theoretically disables the pathogen’s “oxygen metabolism enzyme”, or its “chemical lung”. Colloidal silver also purifies water and can be used topically to treat fungus or as a remedy against infection on cuts and burns. It is also effective in the garden – administered via spray bottle, colloidal silver is useful against garden parasites, fungi, and pests. In small doses, silver is most likely safe and effective. Until about 1982, it was even used (in silver nitrate form) as eye drops for newborns to prevent eye infection – although it is now largely replaced with the antibiotic erythromycin.

Colloidal silver might effectively treat infection and lessen the pain and symptoms that are commonly associated with degenerative conditions like arthritis, but it should always be used properly because it could also make the user a formidable candidate at auditions to the Blue Man Group. For a small percentage of the population, this striking visual element might be a good thing; most, however, should strongly consider this permanent cosmetic effect before introducing colloidal silver into their regimens.

Photo credits: INeedCoffee

Caffeine has recently been linked to a number of health problems — blood sugar woes for those with diabetes, an increased risk of miscarriage in women who are pregnant – but the dangers of caffeine consumption don’t come as a great surprise to the medical community. Caffeine has long been known to rob the body of calcium, cause withdrawal symptoms, a host of gastrointestinal problems, as well as heightened cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Balanced Diet and Sleep Routine will Energize You

If your morning cup of java is the only thing that gets you going, it can be hard to give up caffeine completely, at least without an alternative. Doctors recommend undergoing an evaluation of your diet, sleep patterns, and water intake with the help of your doctor when attempting to kick the caffeine habit. Of course, if your sleep or diet is suffering, fatigue and low energy levels are a natural bodily reaction. Increasing your intake of water throughout the day can actually help accelerate your metabolic system, leaving you more energized and alert, without the “crash” that caffeine is known to cause.

Green Tea may be a Better Choice

If you’re not ready to completely ban caffeine from your diet just yet, green tea is a good way to go. It still has a low dose of natural caffeine, but in comparison to coffee, the percentage is low. Plus, green tea offers a number of health benefits, from immune support, to weight maintenance and is rich in the antioxidant EGCG.

Less Caffeine — More Nutrition

Even a regular cup of brewed tea has a smaller amount of caffeine than coffee – so if you’re trying to wean down, you may want to continually choose beverages with lower and lower doses until you can get through the day without it. The MayoClinic has a good comparison chart that can help you gauge just how much caffeine is in the food or beverages you choose. One of the biggest difficulties in trying to kick caffeine from your diet is that so many beverages and foods secretly contain the stimulant. Some common pitfalls include alcoholic beverages, cold medications, ice cream, and chocolate. Though not all brands of these products contain caffeine, it’s certainly worth checking the label before you buy, especially if you are caffeine-sensitive or fall into a high-risk category.

I’ve recently been suffering a personal battle weaning myself off the antidepressant drug lexapro. I know I’m not alone, and I’m also not putting all the blame on lexapro. Type in the antidepressant of your choice and add the word ‘withdrawal’ into google, and you’ll find yourself upon pages and pages of people talking about the havoc that getting off antidepressants can cause.

Alternative Options for Depression

Still, I, unlike some others, am not advocating that antidepressants are evil and should be avoided at all costs. Rather, I simply know from personal experience that if alternative methods can help to ease your emotional suffering, it’s a much healthier option. Better yet, if you find that a practice like yoga or meditation works for you, it can continue to do so throughout your life, with both emotional and physical benefits on your body. Students of both these practices report lower levels of stress and anxiety, and an overall improvement in physical health.

The Side Effects of Stopping Your Medication

When I finally stopped taking lexapro after weaning down to the lowest dose for several months, my doctor warned me that I might experience some serious side effects – and I did. I couldn’t imagine what I might have gone through if I hadn’t gone off the medication gradually.

Antidepressants Are the New Candy

After this stint, the possibility of joining a psychiatric detox no longer sounded so far-fetched. It did make me wonder, however, why doctors are not more up front about the very real and serious side effects that stopping an antidepressant can cause when they’re prescribing it. As difficult as depression and anxiety might be, knowing that getting off this medication can be as serious a struggle, both emotionally and physically, might have an effect on the number of prescriptions filled each year. Based on figures from 2005, approximately 118 million prescriptions for antidepressant medications are written each year.

If you’re a beauty and cosmetic product fanatic like I am, you’ve surely run into at least a few products that boast a “paraben-free” status — the ones that don’t (otherwise known as the majority of cosmetics on the market) generally do include parabens in their ingredient list. So, what exactly are parabens, and should it matter to you whether they’re in your cosmetics, or elsewhere? Here’s the run down.

What’s Behind Your Shampoo Label?

Parabens are synthetic preservatives, made from methyl, propyl, butyl or ethyl that are commonly used to increase shelf life and kill bacteria in cosmetic products like shampoos, conditioners, skin creams and deodorant. Lab experiments have shown that parabens mimic the hormone estrogen in acting as endocrine disruptors. This can cause allergic reactions or hypersensitivity of the skin, but such a reaction is generally rare. Scant reports of cancerous tumors containing parabens have also made the news. The connection between parabens and cancer is still being debated, however.

Are You Eating Parabens too?

Parabens are also used in small quantities to preserve certain food products. Allergic reactions have been reported by cooks and food handlers who came in direct contact with the synthetic preservatives – usually by ingestion. This is the most dangerous method of contact for those who suffer from paraben allergy. If you suspect that this may be a problem for you, watch for paraben-containing oils, fats and glues – the most common food sources to contain synthetic preservatives.

The Alternative

The good news for those of us looking for alternatives is that paraben-free products are becoming more and more widespread in the natural cosmetic industry. The thought is that if all of the product’s ingredients come from natural sources, the chances of any form of toxicity are low.

When Parabens have Their Place

Still, it is important to remember that it is always possible for a natural ingredient to become contaminated as well, and for this reason, determining whether you should buy all-natural or submit to the synthetic should be something you decide depending on the product’s intended use. Vitamin creams, for instance, are always a better choice in its most natural form. However, if you’re planning to hold on to a particular cosmetic for some time (such as an expensive day cream), parabens can protect your skin from being exposed to potentially harmful bacteria that can develop in the product over time. Preservatives that are considered to be “natural” – such as plant extracts – are not as effective at this, and these products should be tossed after a few months of use.

To learn more about particular products that are made paraben-free, check out this guide from The Celebrity Cafe.

I once worked as an office assistant for a man who, quite literally, swallowed close to 20 vitamin supplements on a daily basis. “I want to live forever,” he told me, washing back a handful of pills. The crazy thing is that he isn’t alone. Supplements and vitamin-fortified foods are more popular than ever. And there is certainly a wide body of evidence to show that many of these supplements have health benefits that can easily have you believing that you will indeed live forever (or at least well into old age), if you take them regularly.

Still, I couldn’t help thinking that shelling out hundreds of dollars each month on bottled vitamins was a bit extreme. In fact, a 2003 New York Times article titled Vitamins: More May Be Too Many showed that Americans are more likely to suffer from vitamin overdose than they are from a shortage.

When Should You Supplement?

Most medical professionals would agree that as long as you’re eating a nutritionally-balanced diet, supplements aren’t necessary, but an all-in-one multi can fill in any gaps that you might have missed with solid food. And though serious side effects of taking vitamin supplements are rare, the overwhelming consensus seems to be that if you can get it from your diet – as is the case with the majority of vitamins found in a “multi” — going that route is probably a smarter move. If you have a health condition that depletes the body of a certain vitamin, that’s when you should consider taking it in supplemental form.

What happens When You Take Too Much?

Furthermore, the body will ordinarily excrete vitamins taken in excess, but some can actually cause health issues if too much is ingested. Vitamin fanatics, take heed, too much.

• Vitamin C: can cause diarrhea, an increased risk of kidney stones
Vitamin B-6: can cause temporary nerve damage
• Vitamin A: can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache and blurred vision
• Vitamin D: can cause nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss
• Iron: can cause hemochromatosis (iron-overload), which may lead to damage of major organs
• Calcium: can cause hypercalcemia, decreased absorption of minerals, impaired kidney function
• Potassium: can cause irregular heartbeats and is especially dangerous to those with kidney or heart disease
• Magnesium: can cause diarrhea and abdominal cramping; very large doses can cause magnesium toxicity

I don’t know about you, but I’ll be taking my vitamins during my next nutritionally-rich meal.

Other Resources:

Too Many Vitamins? [Tufts]

We watched in angst as Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet erased painful memories of a difficult past in the film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Are we coming into an age where it is possible to achieve a spotless mind? Ironically, the characters seemed to have anything but eternal sunshine in their minds or lives. Not only difficult memories were released, but positive ones as well!

Would you erase one bad memory at the cost of the string of pleasant memories that are bundled with it? In the film, memories were erased after they had been made, but proprandol will disable the memories from becoming permanently embedded in our minds. Our memories take time to come into form within our brains. We are medically able to strengthen or weaken memories while they are still forming. A memory is created as a process, and propranolol inhibits the completion of the process.

What is Propranolol?

Propranolol is a drug that was developed in the 1950s indicated as a treatment for hypertension. Further research has concluded that propranolol is the new experimental wonder drug that is able to cease the effects of post traumatic stress syndrome while inhibiting the completion of a painful memory.

Although the drug does not “erase” memories it may ease the future effect of those memories Post traumatic stress syndrome affects the future, just as it does the present. It is a long term illness, and the effects can be devastating on daily life.

Propranolol inhibits the production of adrenaline — adrenaline aids in the solidification of a memory. If a memory is unable to be engraved in your mind – than you may not be have the effects of post traumatic stress disorder. That is, if the drug is administered close to the stressful event.

“Propranolol sits on that nerve cell and blocks it, so that, think of this as being a key, and this is a lock, the hole in the lock is blocked because of propranolol sitting there. So, adrenaline can be present, but it can’t do its job.”

-James McGaugh

James McGaugh is the neurobiologist at the University of California who came into the discovery of this indication that is apparently used not only for hypertension and post traumatic stress disorder, but can be used to rid oneself of stage fright.

Trials and placebos are currently being conducted on the drug in groups of victims. Only time will tell the adverse effects of the drug and the effectiveness of this new indication.

[article provided by Associated Content]

Have you ever used the sugar replacements: NutraSweet, Equal, and Spoonful? If so, then you’ve consumed aspartame.

What is Aspartame?

Aspartame releases a neurotransmitter called aspartate during digestion. This neurotransmitter is allowed to cross a special barrier called the blood-brain barrier [a membranic structure that acts primarily to protect the brain from chemicals in the blood -- wikipedia] which is totally normal. However, when aspartate, in excess, crosses this barrier into the brain, we are intoxicating our brain.

What are the Side Effects?

In anecdotal reports, aspartame has been linked to various neuropsychiatric disorders, including panic attacks, mood changes, visual hallucinations, manic episodes, and isolated dizziness. A small, double-blind crossover study of patients with major depression revealed a higher incidence of reactions in these patients compared with nondepressed volunteers after administration of 30 mg/kg for 7 days; symptoms included

• headache
• nervousness
• dizziness
• memory impairment
• nausea
• temper outbursts
• depression

Sweet Poison

Aspartame and My Grandmother

I’ll never forget how my Grandma constantly drank her coffee and tea with NutraSweet a few times a day. She had diabetes and couldn’t use the regular sugar, so we gave her the alternative. During the last seven or so years of her life, her memory drastically diminished and confusion and dementia become more and more present. Now I’m sure that a lot of this was natural and due to her age (80+ years-old); however, I feel that factors such as her meat-rich diet and daily intake of NutraSweet played a role is exacerbating her illness.

Who knows what the impact on my Grandma’s memory would have been had she not consumed Aspartame. But with any drug that has this much negative research behind it, why should anyone take the risk of consuming it? Why?

This article is only a cursory exploration into the negative effects of aspartame. For more in-depth and constantly updated research into this harmful and toxic neurotransmitter, please visit: Aspartame News

Sweet Misery – A Poisoned World

I can remember the days before my family had a microwave. Days when our meals were sometimes slow-cooked for hours in order to bring out all of the flavors. I can also remember a family trip to the mall one Saturday when I was five years old, where a product demonstrator fried egg after egg – noting the convenience of the non-stick pan.

All of our cookware was almost immediately replaced by the magic Teflon pans. And, as time went by, we continued to upgrade to more and more un-stickiness.

Since then, I can recall countless times that the DuPont company and other makers of this cookware have been in the media regarding the dangers of toxic chemicals used in production. Claims range from damage to pets, cancer caused by inhaled fumes from the chemical plants and other diseases, like Alzheimer are caused by using the cookware itself. So many cases settle out of court, and the ones that prove this stuff is detrimental to our health don’t seem to scare consumers enough.

How Many Cases will it take Before We ALL Wake up?

Mercury is poison, right? So why cook with it? Why cook with materials that are known poisons to humans and the environment? We can choose to simply close our eyes and pray that we never personally feel the downside of these chemicals. But, each day more adults are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, more children with autism – and we are constantly reminded that cooking destroys our food.

Well, perhaps if we cooked with healthy materials at correct temperatures, food enzymes wouldn’t be destroyed and poison would leach into our food.

Dr Mercola describes the dangers of non-stick. Yeah, he is selling an alternative – but he is not a salesman. I know people who buy expensive cookware for look or brand name. But, if you really want your kitchen to have an image of peace and health, you will consider ditching the Teflon and scouring outlet shops for enamel coated cast iron.

Recently some researchers in the UK created a huge scare by claiming that antiperspirants used by women caused breast cancer. They claimed that the aluminum used in the antiperspirant mimics estrogens and thus increases the risk of breast cancer.

Does Using Antiperspirants Retain Harmful toxins Within the Body?

Most experts assure us that there is no reason to be worried; as the body does not sweat out toxins and antiperspirants do not alter the body’s ability to sweat. The liver and kidneys remove more than 95% of the toxins.

There are about 2 – 5 million sweat glands around the body. Antiperspirants affect the sweat glands only in the armpits. Antiperspirants work by dissolving the sweat and produce a thin coating on the skin that temporarily reduces sweating in the armpit. Sweating is the body’s way to regulate body temperature and sweat essentially consists of water, some sodium and little fat and these are not toxic.

There is no evidence that ingredients like aluminum or zirconium salts damage the cell DNA and damage the breast tissue. Human beings are exposed to aluminum everyday and antiperspirants only contribute about 2.5% of the total exposure. Much of the exposure comes from our food and airborne particles. Studies do not support fears that antiperspirants affect hormone levels. Even the use of parabens in cosmetics has been cleared by health and cosmetic regulating authorities.

You Can Smell Good Naturally

Excessive armpit sweating is known as axillary hyperhidrosis. All people experience armpit sweat and odor after puberty, and these are normal bodily functions — and it is but a variation of the normal sweating process. It is a distressing problem for those that suffer from it. If you are worried about aluminum and parabens toxicity, it is better to go natural. And going natural will also stop excessive sweating.

How to Make Your own Deodorant Cream

Melt three tablespoons each of baking soda, petroleum jelly and orrisroot powder (you may also use cornstarch). Add a few drops of scented oil to this mixture. Voila! Your natural deodorant cream is ready.

How to Make Your own Deodorant Spray

Take one and a half cups of water (200 ml) and to it add one tablespoon of powdered alum, one tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and finally add this to 15 ml of scented oil. Put this mixture in a spray bottle and use it.

How to Make Your own Natural Perfume

Take three cups of vodka and add half a cup of your chosen essential or perfumed oil and then add half a cup of finely powdered orrisroot. Mix well and pour it into small ornate bottles and store them in a cool dark place.

Other Methods to Beat Body Odor

• Add some baking soda to you bath water
• Borax in your shoes fights foot odors
• Eating plenty of green vegetables can help your body stay clean and minimize odor. Green vegetables such as spinach and lettuce contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is helpful in reducing the body odor the perspiration
• If you make a strong infusion of tea with lovage or sage, you can apply this under your armpits or add it to your bath and keep body odor away
• Apple cider vinegar can be a good natural deodorant. Just add the apple cider vinegar to some water and place it on your armpit. The vinegar smell will disappear in a few minutes
• Use deodorant crystals. These crystals are a natural rock that absorbs odor without clogging skin pores or staining clothes

Experts say that most people in the US suffer from primary axillary hyperhydrosis. People will spend anything to smell good, so obviously the deodorant industry is huge. It is better to rely on inexpensive and holistic ways, when choosing cosmetics and deodorants.

References:

• www.antiperspirantsinfo.com
• www.allnaturalbeauty.us
• Herbal Home Remedies by Jude C. Todd

Rooted in Euphoria

Legend has it that an Arabian shepherd named Kaldi discovered coffee. One day he found his goats dancing joyously around a dark green leafed shrub with bright red cherries in the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Kaldi soon found out that it was the bright red cherries on the shrub that were causing the peculiar euphoria; he tried it on himself, and experienced a sense of well-being and euphoria. In order to stay awake during extended hours of prayer, monks at a local monastery then exploited the stimulating effect. Coffee soon found its way into all parts of the world.

I became a coffee addict when I was in the final year of medical school. This addiction continued even when I was a resident in a hospital. I started drinking coffee to keep awake. I was always short of sleep during my resident days. I was drinking more than 16 cups of coffee a day. I was constantly suffering from the craving. I had heartburn. I was constantly irritable and when I did not get my coffee in time, my hands started trembling. I knew that something was very wrong.

Finally I decided that enough was enough. I took a sabbatical from my work for three weeks and signed up at an ashram, where you got only fruits and raw vegetables and I got myself detoxified. It was terrible for the first three days. But, I managed to quit that habit. I must confess, I do occasionally get tempted to drink coffee and I do indulge in one small cup, whenever temptation overpowers me.

Did You Know?

1. Coffee shops make up the FASTEST GROWING part of the restaurant business, checking in with a 7% annual growth rate!
2. World coffee production in 2005-2006 was at 113 million bags!
3. 14 billion espresso coffees are consumed each year in Italy, reaching over 200,000 coffee bars, and still growing!
4. Americans consume 400 million cups of coffee per day, or equivalent to 146,000,000,000 (146 Billion) cups of coffee per year; making the United States the LEADING CONSUMER of coffee in the world.
5. Japan ranks number 3 in the world for coffee consumption.
6. Coffee represents 75% of all the caffeine consumed in the United States.
7. Café Bars average sales of 230 cups a day.
8. Coffee is grown commercially in over 45 countries throughout the world.

The coffee trade employs over 5 million people in Brazil. Most of those are involved with the cultivation and harvesting of more than 3 billion coffee plants.

It is not Easy to Understand the Ill Effects of Coffee

What complicates our understanding of the danger of coffee consumption is that we consume caffeine with hundreds of other things like tea and colas.

Heavy-coffee drinkers generally smoke more, drink more alcohol, and eat more fatty foods than non-coffee-drinkers.

Caffeine Benefits

A stimulant like caffeine can give us more alertness, elevate our heart rate and blood pressure and improve our performance in certain sports.

Moderate coffee consumption may be beneficial in gall bladder disease. Coffee drinkers are less prone to liver cancer and coffee may exhibit a protective effect on the liver in persons who drink alcohol excessively. Researchers attribute the beneficial effect of coffee on the liver to caffeine and antioxidants. It is also said to lower the risk of Type 2 Diabetes.

Coffee is also said to improve brain function and alertness. It is believed that coffee drinkers had a less risk from Parkinson’s disease.

Coffee is also said to be effective in controlling a migraine headache.

Caffeine Risks

When taken at night, coffee can disturb sleep..

Sensitive subjects discover that even one cup of coffee can raise the blood pressure and if one has high blood pressure, caffeine carries a risk. It can increase the bad cholesterol and increase the risk of heart disease.

Excessive caffeine can even cause osteoporosis.

Pregnant women should consume less caffeine because it is associated with the risk of miscarriage. It also may cause birth defects in the newborn. Caffeine is also said to adversely affect fertility.

Coffee can raise the serum homocysteine levels and raise the risk of coronary artery disease. Men who drank five or more cups of coffee a day were two and a half times more likely to develop heart disease than men who drank no coffee.

Moderation is Key

Your caffeine can come from coffee, tea, chocolates or energy drinks. There are several health benefits in caffeine. The key to caffeine’s health benefits are in consuming it moderately. Even decaffeinated drinks are not totally safe, as they are known to adversely affect the lipid profile.

It is dangerous to get addicted to coffee. I have discovered that the hard way. If you must drink coffee, then drink it in moderation. Cheers!

More on coffee:

• www.coffee-statistics.com
• www.nmhct.nhs.uk
• www.cdc.gov
• www.coffeeresearch.org
• www.medicinenet.com

One thousand Americans stop smoking every day – by dying. Author Unknown

Did you know that the smoking related diseases claim about 438,000 American lives every year? Smoking costs the United States over $167 billion per year in health-care; including $92 billion in mortality-related productivity loses, and $75 billion in direct medical expenditures. That’s an average of $3,702 per adult smoker. Worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that currently there are 3.5 million tobacco related deaths each year. That figure is expected to rise to about 10 million by 2030. 70% of these deaths will occur in developing countries.

The tobacco industry is worth US $400 billion and it is difficult to stop their aggressive promotion.

Alarmingly, Tobacco Remains Popular among Youth

• 36% of high school students smoke
• 25% of high school males use smokeless tobacco
• Every day 6,000+ kids have their first cigarettes; 3,000 of them will become regular smokers
• 500 million packs of cigarettes are sold illegally to kids every year



• 15.5 million kids are exposed to secondhand smoke at home
• Today 3,000,000+ kids smoke almost one billion packs of cigarettes a year
• Over 5,000,000 kids under 18 alive today will ultimately die from tobacco use
• Kids are three times as sensitive to tobacco advertising as adults
• 86% of kids buy one of the three most heavily advertised brands (Marlboro, Camel or Newport)
• Kids are more likely to be influenced by tobacco advertising than by peer pressure (the tobacco industry spends $5.2 billion every year in the US on advertising and promotion)

Smoking is one of the leading causes of statistics. – Author Unknown.

The Dangers of Tobacco Use

• Addictiveness
• Back Pain
• Cancer: It is the major cause of cancers such as; lung cancer, mouth, laryngeal, esophageal cancer, breast cancer in women, gastrointestinal cancer, cervical cancer, blood cancer, and kidney and bladder cancers
• Childhood Respiratory Ailments and Ear Infections are more common in children whose parents smoke
• Diabetes
• Emphysema :Smoking causes about 85% of all deaths from emphysema
• Heart Disease: Smokers have about 4 times more risk of developing cardiovascular disease than those who don’t smoke
• Infertility: Couples in which at least one member smokes are more than 3 times more likely to have trouble getting pregnant
• Low Birth Weight: Women who smoke as few as 5 cigarettes per day during pregnancy have a significantly greater risk of giving birth to an underweight baby
• Nutrition: Smoking causes lower levels of HDL, the “good” cholesterol
• Osteoporosis: Female smokers tend to have menopause 5 to 10 years earlier than expected, causing increased bone thinning at an earlier age
• Premature Aging: Constant exposure to tobacco smoke prematurely wrinkles facial skin and yellows teeth and fingernails
• Delayed Recovery From Injury Or Surgery: People who smoke have delayed healing of wounds and bones
• Stroke Risk increases manifold with smokers
• Tooth Loss: Use of snuff or chewing tobacco causes gum recession and tooth loss
• Fires: Smoking is the leading cause of fire in homes, hotels, and hospitals

Complementary therapies for Nicotine

Aromatherapy

Essential oils which help make the nicotine withdrawal easier, are specifically aimed at calming the nervous system. Such oils are basil, cypress, marjoram, neroli, patchouli, rose, sandalwood and tangerine.

Mood swings and over-sensitivity occur in a person trying to quit tobacco. In these conditions, chamomile, cypress, geranium and lavender essential oils are useful. For lack of concentration, essential oils such as basil, peppermint and rosemary are useful. Anger is eased by chamomile and ylang ylang, while panic and hysteria are calmed by chamomile, clary sage, neroli and lavender. In tobacco addicts with shortness of breath will benefit from fennel, frankincense and lavender.

Acupuncture

This has helped many people to give up smoking within 3 to four weeks. The body points are chosen to target symptoms of dizziness, restlessness, insomnia, indigestion, nausea, cough and a tight chest.

Reflexology

This will target the lungs to eliminate toxins and give general stress relief.

Colour Therapy

The blue color has been recommended for relaxation and relief from irritability.

Homeopathy

Several medications used synergistically are useful in conferring relief from headaches and irritability that can be caused by nicotine withdrawal. Prominent among those remedies are Lobelia inflata, Nux vomica, Ignatia, Caladium, Avena Sativa and Passiflora.

Plantago is another useful remedy for smoking withdrawal by stopping the craving for tobacco. It also relieves the withdrawal symptoms and helps the addict to sleep well and prevents depression.

Quitting Takes Full Mind and Body Strength

Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known to man. When quitting smoking it is important to realize that we are not trying to break a bad habit but we are overcoming an addiction that is controlling our lives. You may try nicotine patches, complementary therapies and even counseling. But at the end of the day it is only your will power and your awareness of the dangers of tobacco will help you overcome this deadly addiction.

More to read on:

• www.cancer.org
• www.aafp.org
• www.cdc.gov
• www.who.int
• www.tobacco-facts.info

‘In excess, even nectar is poisonous’.
A wise Indian proverb

When I visited the US a decade ago, my western hosts were surprised and perhaps dismayed that I was a hardcore veggie. At a party thrown for me, a very senior American gentleman remarked; “Kid you need more protein to be healthy.”

Respecting his age, I did not retort. But, this is a very common misconception in America since the 1900’s. Americans have traditionally eaten twice the amount of protein that is needed for the body and are not aware of the risks of eating animal protein. Today, a popular diet called the Atkin’s diet encourages high protein and fat intake to lose weight. Excess protein has been linked with osteoporosis, kidney, calcium stones in the urinary tract, and some cancers.

How much protein do we need?

When we were medical students in the 1970’s, we were taught that we needed 1 gram of protein/kg body weight. Thus, a 70kg human being needed about 70 grams of protein per day.

Current recommendations believe that the body loses about 0.34 g of protein per kg body weight per day. With a safety margin added, apparently we need .45 g/kg per day of “ideal” protein to replace what’s lost. With additional safety margins for digestibility and protein quality, our protein requirement is in the neighborhood of .75g/kg, or about 56 grams of protein for a 70 kg man.

We were also taught out of the 20 odd amino acids, the body could synthesize only about 11 of them and the other nine, which had to be got from nutritious sources, were called as ‘essential amino acids.’

It was well known that our protein requirements could change dramatically in illness or injury. Mothers also need more proteins during pregnancy and lactation. It is a common misconception that athletes and other physically active people needed a very high protein intake. It is now understood that, carbohydrates are the best supply the extra energy required for strenuous activity.

Vegetarian Protein is an excellent source:

1. Too much protein is harmful because it can shorten life; increase the risk of cancer, heart disease risk, increase the obesity and diabetes, osteoporosis, kidney stress, and lead to indigestion
2. High protein-diets bring about temporary weight-loss but at the expense of overall health. Sadly people quickly regain weight once they return to a normal diet
3. A varied vegetarian diet with a balance of protein, fats & carbohydrates, and adequate calorie intake provides more than enough protein
4. Animal protein is an inferior source of protein as compared to vegetarian sources of protein
5. Vegetarian proteins do not include the excess calories from fat and toxic residues, which are found in animal protein and are safe on the kidneys

The problem with High-protein diets:

Diets rich in animal protein can cause osteoporosis, by causing people to excrete more calcium than normal through their urine. Plant-based diets provide adequate protein and also protect against osteoporosis.

Proteins found in meat, poultry and fish are cooked at high temperatures and produce heterocyclic amines and these are carcinogens and are implicated in colon and breast cancer.

A high protein diet puts a strain on the kidney, which results in kidney stones and other kidney problems. Diets high in fat and saturated fat can increase one’s risk of heart disease. High-protein diets often encourage consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products, which are all high in cholesterol, fat, and saturated fat. That is the reason, why meat based diets are fraught with cardiovascular risks.

For weight loss, it is better to adopt a lifestyle change that includes a low-fat diet of grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables combined with regular physical activity, instead of relying on a high protein diet.

Being vegetarian is the best:

“The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.”
William Blake

The wise question is how much is enough is the question that begs to be answered now?

As a thumb rule:

• Aim for 5 or more servings of grains each day. This may include 1/2 cup of hot cereal, 1 oz. of dry cereal, or 1 slice of bread. Each serving contains roughly 3 grams of protein.
• Aim for 3 or more servings of vegetables each day. This may include 1 cup of raw vegetables, 1/2 cup of cooked vegetables, or 1/2 cup of vegetable juice. Each serving contains about 2 grams of protein.
• Aim for 2 to 3 servings of legumes each day. This may include 1/2 cup of cooked beans, 4 oz. of tofu. 8 oz. of soymilk, and 1 oz. of nuts.

References and links:

1. Position of the American Dietetic Association: vegetarian diets. J Amer Diet Assoc 1997;97(11):1317-21.
2. Munoz de Chavez M, Chavez A. Diet that prevents cancer: recommendations from the American Institute for Cancer Research. Int J Cancer Suppl 1998;11:85
3. Ornish D, Brown SE, Scherwitz LW. Can lifestyle changes reverse coronary heart disease? Lancet 1990;336:129-33.
4. findarticles.com
5. bodybuildingforyou.com
6. pcrm.org