UnSymmetrical

Toxic chemicals!!! They are literally found everywhere these days. Wired.com's Patrick Di Justo gives us the breakdown of 11 different chemicals commonly found in shaving cream, and the functions they each serve. I've reprinted the full text below. To see what's in your shaving cream and how it stacks up to others out there vist EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database. Womens's shaving creams compared here.

• Palmitic acid: This long-chain lipid is found in palm oil and animal fats. A major component in soapmaking, it helps create a thick, stable lather that enfolds follicles and holds them upright.

• Triethanolamine: A thickener and wetting agent, TEA allows water to flow more freely by reducing the surface tension that holds droplets together. It's also a precursor chemical for the blistering weapon nitrogen mustard gas.

• Stearic acid: Commonly used in cosmetics, this waxy lipid softens the skin. Combined with TEA, it becomes a powerful thickener for luxurious lather.

Continue reading "Thick, Rich, Velvety – and Chock-Full of Ingenious Chemicals" »

Posted by Vitamin Z at 07:47 PM | Permalink

Recently, a Harvard researcher gave a provocative talk on the association between cancer and cow's milk and other milk products. The scientist, Ganmaa Davaasambuu, M.D., Ph.D., a native Mongolian, noted that ingestion of natural estrogens from cows (particularly from pregnant cows) in milk may be linked to breast, prostate, and testicular cancers in humans. All are "hormone-dependent" tumors, meaning that they need sex hormones to grow.

Dr. Davaasambuu cited a study comparing diet and cancer rates in 42 countries that showed a strong correlation between milk and cheese consumption and the incidence of testicular cancer among men age 20 to 39 – rates were highest in high consuming countries such as Switzerland and Denmark and low in Algeria and other parts of the world where people eat less dairy. She also linked rising rates of dairy consumption to the increased death rates from prostate cancer (from near zero per 100,000 men five decades ago to seven per 100,000 men today) and noted that breast cancer also appears to be linked to milk and cheese consumption.

Continue reading "Does Milk Cause Cancer?" »

Posted by Vitamin Z at 02:53 PM | Permalink

For several years, grape seed extract (sold as OPCs) was all the rage. As it turns out, grape SKIN, which was being thrown out, contained its own powerful phytoalexin antioxidant called resveratrol.

In controlled studies, resveratrol has been shown to reduce skin-cancer tumors by up to 98% and to stop production of leukemia cells. In addition, it works as a Cox inhibitor, thus halting the spread of cancer throughout the body. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring antioxidant that decreases the "stickiness" of blood platelets and helps blood vessels to remain open. In addition, resveratrol appears to have estrogen-like properties, and may be helpful in the treatment of breast diseases. Also, studies indicate that resveratrol can profoundly inhibit glucose uptake in HL-60 and U937 cells. Thus, resveratrol may prevent or abate metabolic disorders such as obesity and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus type 2.

And in 2003, the results of a study were released that showed resveratrol extended the life span of yeast cells by 70% by activating a "longevity gene" expressed during caloric restriction. Since mammals have the same "longevity gene" and since caloric restriction is known to extend the lifespan of mammals, scientists speculated humans might be able to receive the longevity benefits of caloric restriction simply by supplementing with resveratrol.

Continue reading "Buying Resveratrol" »

Posted by Vitamin Z at 02:43 PM | Permalink

The organic industry may be one of the fastest-growing niches of the food world, but for a small group of consumers organic is passé.

Instead, they're pushing for reliable information that would tell consumers whether industrial or family farms produced the food, whether that food was grown locally, and whether farms treated their animals "humanely."

That makes for a crowded label. Nevertheless, some food retailers and producers are starting to respond. For example:

• Whole Foods announced last week a $10 million low-interest loan program to help local farmers – as well as other efforts to get local products into their stores.

• The Association of Family Farms announced last week new standards – and a new seal – to assure buyers that food isn't just raised humanely and sustainably but also comes from small family farms.

Continue reading "Organic food? Sure, but is it cage-free?" »

Posted by Vitamin Z at 01:35 PM | Permalink

The recent tainted pet food scare, which resulted in the deaths of several cats and dogs and the removal of pet food from store shelves, has many people worried about their pets' health. So, many pet owners are turning to alternative pet foods that are healthful and organic, reports News 11's Jennifer Boresz.

In fact, since the recall, sales of natural pet foods at Claudia's Natural Food Market have increased. Many pet owners say what their pets eat is just as important as what they eat.

"I think it stems back to my diet. I'm eating more organically, and I've lost a lot of weight: 27 pounds over the past three months. I'm doing a lot better with a healthy diet, and learning about the pesticides that are on everything," said K.C. Saint John, pet owner.

All the dog and cat food found at Claudia's is made without those pesticides, hormones and fillers.

Continue reading "Skittish Pet Owners Seeking Organic Food for Pets" »

Posted by Vitamin Z at 03:31 PM | Permalink

If you suffer from allergies, you're not alone. In fact, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), more than 50 million people have allergic diseases, making them the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in the USA.

The 2006 Spring Allergy season is already being billed as the worst in years. The mild wet winter seen this year in much of the US is being blamed for the early intense spring allergy season. If you've been paying attention to the media over the past week, you have no doubt seen some of the numerous reports jumping on the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's 2006 publishing of their list of Allergy Capitals.

According to the Foundation:

The list is based on the levels of grass/tree/weed pollen and mold spores in the air, the medication usage per patient, and the number of Board Certified allergists per patient in each metro area. The results for each metro area are then compared and ranked.

Continue reading "Allergies" »

Posted by Vitamin Z at 01:30 PM | Permalink