Stop Exfoliating, Toning, and Moisturizing – Make Your Own Bacteria Your Beautician

Cosmetic companies have created an empire that has paved the way to dermal disaster. Bright, shiny bottles. Glittering labels. Designer fragrances. Million dollar ad campaigns. It’s no wonder modern beauty products are so appealing. Unfortunately, most of the beautifying blends consumers rely on for vanity, anti-aging, and hygiene are packed full of harsh chemicals and unregulated poisons. There’s more than an even chance these products are causing serious, lasting harm.

Why Cleansing is Corrosive

Poplar cleansers are offered in the form of creams, milks, lotions, foams, and mousses. Each one claims to target a specific skin type or problem. The surfactants commonly found in these cleansing products wash away sebum and dissolve the skin’s protecting enzymes and hydro-lipid barriers, eliminating the skin’s natural acid mantle. This diverse microbiome of beneficial bacteria acts as the skin’s natural defense to keep the good bacteria in and the bad bacteria out as it maintains natural moisture levels. When the microbiome is destroyed, pollutants, toxins, and harmful pathogens gain instant access to vulnerable skin.

Surfactants are comprised of sulfate, sulfonate, and phosphate-based ingredients and can be found in both standard and so-called natural cleansers. These stripping chemicals can stay on and in the skin for as long as 4 days, allowing deep penetration that can trigger systemic reactions. This can manifest as acne, dry dull skin, melasma, and premature aging. Antibacterial products are immediately and continually disruptive to the skin and encourage microbial mutation, making the skin a breeding ground for superbugs and pathogens.

Why Exfoliating is Problematic

The uppermost dermal layer of the skin is comprised of dead skin cells. This fact has given rise to the belief that these dead cells are useless and dirty and that they should be removed through daily diligence, but these cells also act as a protective barrier. Exfoliation leaves the young, underdeveloped cells underneath stressed and vulnerable, incapable of dealing with exposure, intruder invasion, and inflammation.

Most multi-step skincare regimens include an exfoliation component that makes you believe you’re properly clean because you’ve given yourself a thorough scrubbing. Plastic microbeads are an abrasive commonly found in everything from high-end bath gels to toothpaste. When used as an exfoliant in skin scrubs, they can cause tiny fissures to form that cause redness, itchiness, irritation, and sensitivity. Microbeads are an ecological disaster contributing to the vast plastic wasteland in the sea and contamination of the food chain (more on microbeads).

Why Toning is Harmful

Toners are often touted as balancing tonics for fresh and ultra clean skin. The truth is, toners are usually alcohol based astringents that disrupt and remove your natural acid mantle. Consistent use will cause low-grade inflammation that eventually weakens the dermal layers. Eventually, your skin will be broken down to a level of vulnerability that allows destructive substances to have a direct line into the bloodstream.

While toners seem to offer some relief for sufferers of oily skin, in actuality, excessive removal of oil will stimulate the sebaceous glands into secreting even more oil to compensate. Those with dry skin will only exacerbate their condition, leading to chronic dehydration and premature aging.

The effectiveness of this practice is short lived and counterproductive, leaving those with problematic skin to believe that their issues are simply on the increase. The reality is that they are continually destroying the delicate balance of beneficial bacteria that regulate the homeostasis of healthy skin.

Why Moisturizing Can Cause Damage

From rich and creamy to light and airy, modern moisturizers would have you believe that every (expensive name-brand) product was formulated with your exact skin type in mind. With alluring botanicals and stem cell technology, products claim that everything from freckles to crow’s feet can be banished with their modern hydrating formula.

Aside from the fact that the average options are full of alcohol derivatives (very dehydrating!) and fragrant irritants, these products are teeming with laboratory synthetics and man-made ingredients. They are held together with controversial preservatives like parabens, which were recently found to be present in 99% of all cancerous breast tissue.

After removing all traces of the skin’s natural defense system through an atomic cleansing routine, slathering on moisturizing concoctions significantly increases toxic exposure. Repeated contact increases the likelihood of cell mutation and abnormal cell development. Not only is this deeply aging, it could easily lead into cancerous territory.

How to Make Bacteria Your Beautician

The outlook may seem bleak, but there are wonderfully effective methods that use safe, truly natural, and elemental organic ingredients. Healthy, beautiful, glowing skin is not the preserve of airbrushed images and clinical trials.

A Better Way to Cleanse and Moisturize

Set aside the multi-step approach! Oil cleanses, tones, and moisturizes all at the same time. Just as you need nourishment to perform, so does your skin. Though it may seem counterintuitive to put oil on your skin, especially if you have acne or oily skin, this method is truly the only way to find balance. Feed the good bacteria in your natural skin microbiome with a stabilizing beauty routine of organic oils.

Jojoba Oil

Simply place a quarter-sized amount in your hand and massage it over your face. Remove with a tissue. Repeat if necessary. To moisturize, dab on a little extra oil and away you go.

Jojoba oil gently and effectively removes dirt, excess oils, and makeup. It dissolves hardened sebum deposits that accumulate in the pores, but it doesn’t strip the acid mantle or disturb the microbial balance. While nourishing and supporting the dermal layers, it cultivates and preserves your hydro-lipid barrier and protective enzymes. Plus, jojoba oil never goes rancid, so you can buy it in economical quantities that will keep forever.

Castor Oil

For a much deeper cleanse, try adding a small amount of organic castor oil into your oil cleansing routine. It can be implemented daily for problematic skin or weekly for general maintenance.

Only a tiny amount is needed, as it can be quite drying if applied excessively. By adding 10-20% castor oil to the mix, you will purge out impurities while maintaining adequate hydration and the integrity of your skin structure.

Castor oil is excellent for congested and acne prone skin. So often, these issues are dealt with by a sledgehammer approach that is ultimately damaging and counterproductive. By gently nudging the bacterial and sebum production into balance, you can reduce the sensitive, inflammatory nature of greasy or blemish prone skin. It preserves the acid mantle and encourages healthy cell turnover for a glowing complexion.

How to Exfoliate with Ease

Exfoliation itself isn’t the enemy; over application is the real problem. It can be useful to exfoliate in moderation, but never vigorously or more frequently than once per week. This can increase circulation of blood and lymph, as well as gently assist the body’s cell turnover.

Try dry brushing with natural bristles to boost this process. Body brushing with lymph stimulating oils such as rosemary, cypress, or eucalyptus will stimulate healthy circulation and gently even out the skin’s surface.

Soft pony bristle brushes can be used on the face for circulatory and lymphatic stimulation, using small, careful, upward strokes. Baking soda may also be used as a facial exfoliator. Mixed into a paste using oil or water, it can make for a zesty ablution now and again.

Final Thoughts

When you nourish your skin with replenishing, revitalizing, and rejuvenating oils you allow your skin to thrive by strengthening its own intelligent design. If you cultivate the perfect environment for a thriving community of beneficial microbes, you will accomplish better, lasting results.

Further Reading:
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Nutritional Support for Cystic Fibrosis

The global incidence of cystic fibrosis is estimated as 1/2500 live births.  CF cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be managed to support overall health, to manage associated symptoms, and to increase the quality of life. CF is equally diagnosed in males and females, although males tend to have a higher life expectancy (approximately 40 years) in comparison with women (approximately 37 years). Progressive lung conditions or related problems are the primary cause of death in CF patients; therefore, intervention strategies are usually aimed at supporting respiratory health and increasing immune function against respiratory infections.  A nutritional-based approach can effectively help to manage CF and associated symptoms to increase overall health and quality of life.

CF is caused by a mutation in the gene responsible for regulating the passage of salt in and out of exocrine glands. These glands produce and secrete substances onto epithelial surfaces of the body: sweat glands, salivary glands, reproductive glands, pancreas glands, and glands of the digestive and respiratory systems. If this gene is mutated, the protein influenced by it will be transformed and consequently stimulate the production of thick, sticky and abnormal mucus that may obstruct airways and damage tissues.

Each person inherits two copies of the gene related to CF, but CF is only possible if both parents have the mutated gene and passes it on to the child. If only one parent has the defective gene, their offspring will be a carrier of this gene and may pass it on to their children if their partner is also a carrier. A child with two carrier parents has a 25% chance of inheriting the disease and a 50% chance of being a carrier. The primary risk factor is both parents being carriers of the defective gene.

Every part of the body that presents with exocrine glands will be affected by CF: the pancreas, reproductive glands, digestive tract, salivary glands, sweat glands, and the respiratory tract.

Symptoms of CF

Symptoms of CF begin early in life and are often first seen in the respiratory tract or in the digestive tract.

Cystic Fibrosis Manifestations

Respiratory Tract

Thick, sticky mucus in the lungs and bronchial tubes may block lung passage and thereby promote the colonisation of harmful bacteria in the respiratory tract. Symptoms related to respiratory issues in CF patients include coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and recurrent lung infections. The bacteria may remain dormant in the lungs and contribute to repeated outbreaks of lung infections. These bacteria are often immune to conventional treatment and may contribute to tissue damage and may even suppress immune defences. Another primary characteristic of CF is chronic inflammation in the respiratory tract, which may consequently contribute to the formation of pro-oxidants, which are components that may damage and cause deterioration of tissues.

Digestive Tract

Thick secretions from the pancreatic gland may obstruct the secretion of digestive enzymes, which are required for digestion of food particles. Insufficient digestive enzymes may contribute to malabsorption and subsequently minimise nutrient stores in the body. Fat digestion and absorption are particularly affected by CF, leading to greasy and foul-smelling stools.

Other Common Symptoms

  • Excessive and salty sweating
  • Salty-tasting skin
  • Infertility (reproductive organs are affected)
  • Dehydration
  • Chronic diarrhoea
  • Poor growth
  • Excessive appetite, but poor growth or low weight (due to malnutrition)
  • Sinusitis

Conventional Approaches to CF

  • Antibiotics are generally given to CF patients to manage chronic respiratory infections; however, antibiotics destroy both harmful and beneficial bacteria, which may in effect lower defences even further (beneficial bacteria is critical for immune functioning).
  • Anti-inflammatory medication (e.g.: ibuprofen) is often administered to reduce airway inflammation, which may effectively reduce inflammation, but it may also damage the gastrointestinal tract, which should be protected and strengthened as this tissue is already vulnerable in CF patients.
  • Devices are used to remove mucus, to increase breathing, and to keep the airways open.
  • Lung replacement surgery is often performed if lung conditions worsen or if lung tissue is excessively damaged.

A Nutritional Approach

Nutrition can help manage not only the symptoms of CF but the side-effects of treatment, as well.

Guidelines for Useful Supplements

  • Multivitamin and mineral supplement – to ensure optimal nutrient stores. The highest quality sources of bio-available nutrients are plant- or food-derived multi-nutrient supplements. Malnutrition often exists alongside CF due to reduced digestive enzyme secretions and damage to the intestinal lining, which reduces capacity for absorption. Therefore, it is critical to ensure adequate nutrient intake through the diet and supplementation when needed to replenish nutrient stores in CF individuals.
  • Gastrointestinal supporting supplements – 60-70% of the body’s immune tissue is located in the gastrointestinal tract; therefore, if the gastrointestinal environment is sub-optimal or presents with an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, it may significantly reduce immune capacity. The abnormal mucus secreted in CF tends to damage the gastrointestinal tract, which may further reduce immune function. Supporting gut health is a primary consideration for nutritional therapy intervention and includes the following strategies:
    • Probiotics: Essential probiotics for the gut are Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis. Dosage should preferably be 50 billion units per day.
    • Digestive enzymes: As mentioned, the pancreatic secretions of digestive enzymes may be reduced, which significantly reduces the body’s ability to digest and absorb foods. Providing digestive enzyme supplements alongside a meal ensures that these enzymes are present in the gut when food arrives that needs to be digested and absorbed.
    • L-Glutamine powder: An amino acid that fuels the gut epithelial cells to repair any present damage and to protect against further deterioration to these intestinal cells. Dosage depends on age and progression of disease; suggested dosage is generally between 10g-50g per day.
    • Vitamins A, C, D and E: Essential vitamins for immune functioning and maintaining gut epithelial tissue integrity. Dietary intake of these vitamins should be optimal, but a supplement form of these vitamins may be required for additional support. Vitamin C and E are powerful antioxidants to protect the body’s cells and tissues against damage incurred by oxidants and inflammation. A high-quality multivitamin generally provides sufficient amounts of these vitamins, but the diet should also ensure a broad variety of fruit and vegetables to increase the intake of vitamins.
  • Essential fatty acids: Omega 3 essential fatty acids (especially DHA and EPA) are powerful anti-inflammatory fatty acids and may, therefore, protect tissues against inflammatory damage. Essential fatty acid supplements should preferably be purified to minimise exposure to heavy metals and toxins. Cod liver oil provides concentrated quantities of vitamin A, vitamin D, and essential fatty acids in a highly absorbable form.
  • Zinc: A mineral that supports integrity and healing of tissues and provides immune support.
  • MSM (methylsulfonylmethane): To protect lung tissue against damage and maintain strength and integrity of the respiratory tract.
  • N-acetyl cysteine: A building block for glutathione production, a potent antioxidant required to protect cells against oxidant damage. Systemic glutathione levels are often deficient in CF individuals, especially in the epithelial lining. Glutathione has a therapeutic effect on lung tissue through the neutralisation of oxidants, reduction of inflammation, and resolving accumulated mucus.
  • Curcumin (the main active ingredient in turmeric): Curcumin is one of nature’s most potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. It may protect against lung inflammation and promotes optimal immune functioning. Curcumin assists in liver function and protects liver cells against damage. Optimal liver function is required to stimulate the secretion of digestive juices and bile acid production, which are both crucial for digestive functioning. A curcumin supplement should be combined with black pepper or in a highly absorbable form (usually indicated), because curcumin has a very low bio-availability and therefore needs assistance to be taken into circulation.

General Dietary Guidelines

CF often contributes to malnutrition, therefore, the diet is of paramount importance to ensure adequate intake of nutrients to support health, growth, and immune functioning. The diet should be mainly plant-based with a broad variety of fruits and vegetables to ensure adequate intake of all the essential vitamins and minerals. Fruits and vegetables should preferably be organic to ensure a high nutrient profile, high antioxidant content, and a low exposure to toxins and pollutants.

As mentioned, sufficient intake of omega 3 may be effective in reducing inflammation, supporting immune function, and preventing mucus over-production. High-quality dietary sources of omega 3 include oily fish (especially salmon), flaxseed oil, and nuts (particularly walnuts).

Processed and heavily cooked foods stimulate mucus secretions and should, therefore, be avoided to prevent excessive build-up of thick, abnormal mucus. Foods should be easy to digest and if food intolerances are present, these foods should be eliminated completely to avoid an over-active immune system, excessive inflammatory responses, and increased mucus secretions.

Foods to Avoid

  • Animal-derived foods are hard to digest, often contain a high amount of toxins, and are rich in saturated fats. Animal foods provide high amounts of arachidonic acid (AA), a fatty acid that is generally excessive in CF patients. Reducing the intake of animal-derived foods may keep AA levels in check, especially if the person supplements with a high-quality omega 3 supplement containing DHA and EPA.
  • Dairy products stimulate mucus secretions.
  • Processed foods, junk foods, processed meat, cheese, pre-packaged foods, etc.
  • Refined starch such as white flour products (bread, pasta, pizza, pastries, etc.)
  • Sugar

Foods to Include

  • Animal protein alternatives include soaked nuts and seeds (to increase nutrient absorption), beans, pulses, sprouts, high-quality protein powder and hemp powder (a high quality, high protein source). Nuts and seeds additionally provide essential fatty acids and vitamin E to reduce inflammation and provide antioxidant protection.
  • Anti-inflammatory foods reduce inflammation in the respiratory tissues and prevent damage caused by inflammation. Anti-inflammatory foods include dark green leafy vegetables, avocados, oily fish, ginger, garlic, turmeric, and cinnamon.
  • Foods that may reduce mucus formation and secretion include garlic, onions, parsley, celery, cranberry, and lemons / lemon juice.
  • Pineapple and papaya provide natural digestive enzymes to support proper digestion and absorption of ingested foods. Include these fruit alongside meals to optimise nutrient stores.
  • At least 10-12 glasses of water per day are required to ensure proper hydration of the body and to regulate fluid balances.
  • Expectorant foods that may assist in relieving congestion and mucus build-up include cayenne pepper, garlic, turmeric, and hyssop.
  • Immune-supporting herbs and food include eucalyptus, onions, ginger, garlic, tea tree oil, Echinacea, and thyme. Garlic, ginger, and onions also act as cellular antioxidants to protect against oxidant damage.

Blood Sugar Regulating Diet

Damage to the pancreas may often incur damage to the cells responsible for secreting insulin, thereby reducing the body’s ability to regulate blood glucose levels. Carbohydrate intake should be restricted to prevent excessively elevated blood sugar levels, which may eventually manifest as insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon can be used daily to assist in blood sugar regulation. If insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes is already present, more specifically tailored dietary and supplement guidelines should be followed to manage blood sugar levels.

A therapeutic and powerfully anti-inflammatory drink to include daily is “Golden milk.”

Golden Milk Recipe

  • 1 cup of full cream coconut milk
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp raw honey
  • a pinch black pepper (increases turmeric absorption)
  • a tiny piece of fresh ginger
  • a pinch of cayenne pepper powder

Blend the ingredients in a high-speed blender until it’s properly mixed. Heat for 3-5 minutes over moderate heat in a saucepan and drink immediately.

Other Measures

Functional breathing techniques can also be very useful and effective to increase the capacity and flexibility of the respiratory tissue. An example of a functional breathing technique is 4-7-8 breathing:

  • Inhale deeply through the nose for 4 seconds, taking the inhaled oxygen deeply into the diaphragm.
  • Hold the breath for 7 seconds.
  • Exhale deeply through the mouth for 8 seconds.
  • Repeat at least 3 times.
  • This exercise also calms the nervous system and can be quite effective to combat stress and anxiety.

For a more tailored, personalised approach, a nutritional therapist can develop an intervention program according to the person’s unique biochemical make-up and current state of health.

Related Reading:
Author:

Jeanne Van Zyl lectures in Nutrition for the group of colleges that includes CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine), in Europe, and CNH (College of Natural Health) in South Africa.



What Can Epsom Salts Do For you?

Epsom salt is not actually salt; it is a mineral compound, magnesium sulfate. It looks like large salt crystals, dissolves easily in water, and has many uses for health, beauty, and the garden.

There are different grades of Epsom salt, one for agricultural and one for personal use. For personal use, look for USP or the “drug facts” list on the label.

Why Take an Epsom Salt Bath?

Epsom salt baths are relaxing and therapeutic. They are a long known treatment for skin issues like eczema and acne, muscle soreness (well known within the bodybuilding community!), inflammation, bruising, swelling, and strained or torn muscles and ligaments. Epsom salt baths are also a wonderful aid for detoxing and an easy means to up your intake of both magnesium and sulfate.

Why We Need Magnesium

Magnesium is crucial to our health. It is a key mineral for metabolic processes that play a role in more than 300 chemical reactions in the body. It helps the body regulate enzymes and aids in electrical impulses, toxin elimination, muscle control, and more. The University of Maryland Medical Center site states, “Every organ in the body, especially the heart, muscles, and kidneys, needs magnesium. This mineral also contributes to the makeup of teeth and bones. Magnesium activates enzymes, contributes to energy production, and helps regulate levels of calcium, copper, zinc, potassium, vitamin D, and other important nutrients in the body.”

It is believed that most of us do not get as much magnesium as we need from our diet due to depleted soil and municipal water, which is stripped of minerals during the purification process.

How to Properly Take an Epsom Salt Bath or Soak

You will commonly see directions suggesting 2 cups to a normal size bath, more for an oversized bath, with a 12-15 minute soak. David Jockers DC, MS, CSCS, suggests a much more individualized measurement and a much longer soak. He recommends the amount be determined by the individual’s weight. The following is for a standard size bathtub:

  • Children under 60 lbs: ½ cup
  • Individuals between 60-100 lbs: 1 cup
  • Individuals between 100-150 lbs: 1½ cups
  • Individuals between 150-200 lbs: 2 cups
  • For every 50lbs more – add an additional ½ cup of salts.

As for soaking time, he says the first 20 minutes pulls out toxins while the second 20 minutes allows the body to soak up the magnesium and sulfate.

He also cites the following contraindications: pregnancy, open wounds or burns, or cardiovascular disease (without your healthcare practitioners knowledge).

For muscle soreness an Epsom salt bath is one of the best things you can do, but if your goal is detoxification, first do a dry brush rub to remove dead skin and open up your pores. This takes about five minutes. Take your time. When you finish soaking, consider hot and cold hydrotherapy.

Combine Epsom Salt With Other Ingredients

You can add additional ingredients to your Epsom salt bath such as essential oils, baking soda, olive oil, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, and more.

Essential oils are a natural compliment. The usual suggestion is 3-10 drops. Remember essential oils are medicinal. For recipes google “essential oils plus Epsom salts.” You will generate more than 400,000 hits.

Dr. Jockers suggests adding from 1 teaspoon to ½ cup of ginger or cayenne to “increase heat levels, which help you to sweat out toxins.” These herbs not only enhance the detoxification process, they are full of antioxidants as well.

Use Epsom Salt to Make a Compress or a Foot Bath

You can make a compress to relieve muscle pain. Start by dissolving Epsom salt in cold water with a ratio of 2 tablespoons for each cup of water. Use a cotton washcloth to soak up the solution and apply to affected area.

To create a footbath, use one cup of Epsom salt to a basin of warm water. Soak your feet to alleviate tired aching feet, sprains, and fungal infections of the feet or toenails. Footbaths also allow the body to soak up magnesium and release toxins (though perhaps not as much as a full body soak).

Use Epsom Salt as a Laxative

Epsom salt can be used as a laxative, though care must be taken. It is possible to overdose on magnesium that is ingested and there are several contraindications for this use. Check out this article on Drugs.com for more information and pertinent warnings.

Use Epsom Salt in the Garden

Epsom salt is used as a fertilizer and an insect deterrent in the garden and for houseplants. Roses, peppers, and tomatoes, in particular, tend to benefit from its use. A trail of Epsom salt sprinkled around an area deters slugs and raccoons.

Additional Uses of Epsom Salt

There are many ways to use Epsom salt. Here are a few:

  • Remove a stubborn splinter. (Soak area for a few minutes prior to removal to decrease inflammation and swelling and to soften the splinter.)
  • Clean out washing machine. (Pour 1 cup into machine and run through normal cycle.)
  • Clean bathroom grout. (Use equal amounts of Epsom salt and dishwashing detergent.)
  • Use as an abrasive to clean pots and pans.

But there’s nothing better than an Epsom salt soak when your sore. If you experience muscle soreness due to an autoimmune disease, check out Hypothyroidism – Natural Remedies, Causes, and How To Heal the Thyroid and Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases.

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Formaldehyde in GMOs, Yet Another Unlisted Ingredient

By policy, the FDA considers GMO foods to be substantially equivalent to their non-genetically modified counterparts, and to be generally recognized as safe. GMOs do after all, look very similar to their conventional counterparts and they are grown under somewhat similar conditions. Under FDA guidelines, this leaves foods that are newly invented to be poorly tested, and the FDA assumes them to be safe without sufficient evidence to reach such conclusions. Under the limitations of our current biotechnology, whenever genes are artificially manipulated, unintended consequences inevitably result.

Independent Scientists Are Finding That GMOs are Not Substantially Equivalent to Their Conventional Counterparts

A new study from Cambridge University demonstrates that GMO soy is less nutritious and more toxic than conventional soy. Each GMO crop is unique, and this study focused solely on one type of genetically modified soy. Undoubtedly, more research is needed on other GMOs. So far the FDA’s notions of substantial equivalence, are not holding up in independent research. As is often the case, independent science is yielding objective results, giving us the good news with the bad.

The Revolving Door Told Us GMOs Were Safe

FDA assumptions of substantial equivalence were at best based upon wishful thinking, but much more likely to have been decisions made with the intention of prioritizing profit over health. The FDA is after all, staffed by a revolving door of management level biotech and pharmaceutical employees. FDA hierarchy move back and forth between the private and public sectors, reaping huge benefits along the way. Consumer advocates don’t work at the FDA; it is the industry insiders who do. The independent scientists are doing the testing for safety that the FDA should have done.

System Biology is Yielding New Insight Into GMOs

Using a systems biology approach, two researchers from Cambridge University have demonstrated how the genetic modifications made to CP4 EPSPS, better known as Roundup Ready soy, has resulted in significant systemic changes to the plant’s nutritional value, rendering the GMO soy bean less nutritious and more toxic.

Dr. Ayyadurai and Dr. Deonikar’s results show how instead of the plant producing normal levels of enzymes and antioxidants such as glutathione and super oxide dismutase, Round Up Ready soy is almost completely devoid of glutathione. This GMO soy produces significant amounts of formaldehyde, a substance that is widely known to be toxic and a carcinogen.

Formaldehyde Is Not The Kind of Chemical That You Would Want in Your Food

Formaldehyde has a lot of uses in manufacturing. It is often used as an additive in glue, in wrinkle free shirts, as an additive in hair straighteners, and it has been used as an embalming agent for thousands of years. (It is believed that the Egyptians were the first to use formaldehyde). The chemical is falling out favor with many funeral directors. When used in embalming, great effort is made to avoid accidentally breathing in the fumes. Despite improved ventilation and modern protective gear, many funeral homes refuse to work with formaldehyde simply because it is too dangerous. Its ubiquitous use in manufacturing has come under scrutiny as well.

We can add formaldehyde as yet another one of the ingredients that is being hidden in our food. The struggle to label genetically modified soy can be thought of as the struggle to label formaldehyde laden, antioxidant deficient soy as well. There is no scientific justification to assume that GMOs are substantially equivalent to other foods. On the other hand, there is plenty of evidence that GMOs kill beneficail microbes in our gut and damage our digestive system (see Leaky Gut Syndrome and Autoimmune Diseases). Afterall, that’s what they’re designed to do.

Recommended Reading:
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Arthritis – How To Relieve the Pain and Heal Naturally

Arthritis is painful inflammation of one or more joints in the body. There are more than 100 types of arthritis, though the best-known types are osteoarthritis (which breaks down cartilage), rheumatoid arthritis (which is an autoimmune disorder affecting the lining of the joints), and gout (caused by deposits of urate crystals in the joints).

Any form of arthritis can both emotionally taxing and physically limiting due to pain and stiffness. Over time, damage to the joints can be extensive.

As with any disease, the first essential step is to change your diet. Every cell in the body requires two things: nutrition and detoxification. The proper diet achieves both; it gives the body dense nutrition and aids the body in daily detoxification.

What to eat:

  • Eat a wide variety of nutrient dense, organic whole foods, not processed foods.
  • Eat lots of produce – more vegetables than fruits; 80% of your food should be fresh, raw, organic produce!
  • If you eat meat, always eat organic
  • Omega 3 fatty acids – oily fish, fish oil, blended Omega 3 oil, flax seed oil, flax seeds
  • Soak nuts and seeds before eating them
  • Eat raw garlic, cilantro, and turmeric regularly to help detoxify
  • Add nutrition powder to your daily diet

What not to eat:

  • Artificial flavorings, colors, or preservatives
  • MSG
  • GMOs
  • High fructose corn syrup
  • Sugar (in its many forms)
  • Gluten

Stop all dairy for two weeks then challenge yourself with it (eat a lot of it). See what happens. If you feel ill, see dark circles under your eyes, or experience diarrhea, stop eating dairy.

Doc Shillington recommends the following vitamins and supplements for anyone suffering from arthritis:

See the first link below for the rest of Doc Shillington’s protocol.

When we are ill, especially with anything autoimmune, it is very likely that we are suffering from leaky gut syndrome and Candida. It is vital to stop eating gluten and to get Candida under control so the gut can heal. The goal is to heal your gut followed by every other cell in your body.

Again, this is primarily accomplished by diet and aided by supplements. If you suffer from vaginal yeast infections, itchy skin, raw skin, athlete’s foot, nail fungus etc. these are definite signs that Candida is a problem. [See the second link below.

How to relieve the pain of arthritis

Step one is filling the body with dense nutrients. Step two is getting those nutrients into each and every cell of the body while cleansing each cell of waste and toxins. To accomplish this both blood and lymph need to work in harmony to bathe each cell.

Hot and cold hydrotherapy

Hot and cold hydrotherapy not only relieves pain, it aids the body in healing. It is simple and easy to do but it takes some fortitude. Alternate hot and cold water on the afflicted area for 20 minutes. Start with hot water for a minimum of two minutes then switch to cold for two minutes, back and forth. End with cold.

Hot water drives the blood to the surface of the skin. Cold water drives it deep into tissues. This agitation of the blood helps to cleanse the tissues, much like the agitation of a washing machine. See Hot and Cold Hydrotherapy.

Exercise

Exercise is important. You need to move. The afflicted joints need to move. Exercise is also necessary to move your lymph. Lymph aids the blood in removing toxins and waste from the cells and their surrounding fluids.

Massage

A good masseuse can also help with both pain and healing. Massage aids with circulation of both blood and lymph.

Epsom Salts Bath

If done correctly, Epsom salts baths can be very beneficial. The first thing is to use enough salts. The second issue is to soak for 40 minutes. The first 20 minutes draws out toxins. During the second 20 minutes, you soak up magnesium and sulfates.

The amount to use is determined by weight to a standard size bath:

  • 60-100 lbs: 1 cup
  • 100-150 lbs: 1½ cups
  • 150-200 lbs:  2 cups
  • For each addition 50lbs, add another ½ cup

Herbs That Ease Arthritis Pain

All disease begins and ends on a cellular level. Nutrition, circulation, and detoxification are the core elements to end the pain and damage caused by arthritis. The first step to eliminating almost any disease is here: How To Kill Candida and Balance Your Inner Ecosystem. Many other ailments, including arthritis in the elbows, wrists, knees, hips and shoulders are caused by, and/or exacerbated by thyroid problems as well. Check out Understand Hypothyroidism – Prevention and Natural Remedies.

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Autoimmune Disease – The Body’s Betrayal

When you think of disease, life-threatening disease, what first comes to mind? Cancer? Heart disease?

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), 9 million Americans suffer from Cancer on an annual basis; 22 million suffer from heart disease. Autoimmune disease beats them both with an annual number of 23.5 million and rising.

According to American Autoimmune, 50 million would be a more accurate number because the NIH only counts and tracks 24 autoimmune diseases (all with good epidemiology studies) though researchers consider 80-100 diseases to be chronic, autoimmune conditions.

What Is an Autoimmune Disease?

The simple definition of an autoimmune disease is a misguided immune system that attacks healthy body tissue. Some autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis or arthritis target specific body parts, while others, such as lupus, affect many parts of the body.

These diseases cause more than inflammation, pain or discomfort; many are crippling and are among the leading causes of death in America. The following is a short list of the most common autoimmune diseases.

Common autoimmune diseases

  • Addison’s disease
  • Arthritis
  • Celiac disease
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Diabetes (type 1)
  • Graves’ disease
  • Guillain-Barré syndrome
  • Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
  • Lupus
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Pernicious anemia
  • Polyarteritis
  • Polymyalgia rheumatica
  • Psoriasis
  • Raynaud’s phenomenon
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Sjögren’s syndrome
  • Ulcerative colitis

Conventional medicine offers no cures and has not reached a definitive answer as to the cause of autoimmune diseases. The primary treatment is medication. Steroids are commonly prescribed, despite how damaging their long-term use can be to the body.

Conventional medicine recognizes a genetic component and questions whether a viral infection could trigger an autoimmune disease. They have also acknowledged the fact that many people suffering from autoimmune diseases have celiac disease as well as another autoimmune disease.

How to Cure Autoimmune Disease

Natural health care practitioners believe that health, or lack of health, begins in the gut. Not only is the gut responsible for 80% of our immune system, an unhealthy gut cannot absorb the nutrients the body needs for every function, including healing.

A sick gut is often a leaky gut, one that allows proteins and food particles to pass into the bloodstream, causing the immune system to attack these foreign particles as pathogens.

An unhealthy gut is the result of an unhealthy diet, antibiotic use, and Candida overgrowth. If you want to rid yourself of any chronic condition, you have to heal the body, one cell at a time. If you are ready to do this, it all starts with diet.

A Truly Healthy Diet Is the Key to Health

The healthiest diet is a whole food, plant-based, 80% raw diet. A full 80% of your diet should be fresh, raw, organic produce – more vegetables than fruit. This will provide your body with the nutrients, fiber, and enzymes it needs and the perfect food to help the colonies of beneficial bacteria in your gut to thrive and reproduce.

There is no room in a healthy diet for processed foods with the exception of a few organic products such as healthy oils. The following should all be permanently eliminated:

  • Artificial colors
  • Artificial flavor
  • Preservatives
  • MSG, BHA, BHT
  • GMOs
  • Trans fats
  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Processed sugars

During the healing process eliminate the following foods as well:

  • Dairy products
  • Caffeine
  • Gluten (very important!) All grains containing gluten and all sources of gluten contamination.

You may be able to add some or all of these foods back into your diet on a limited basis after you have healed your gut and eliminated the autoimmune disease, but it is highly possible that you will find you feel better without them.

If you choose to eat meat, be absolutely sure that it is organic. This is vitally important. When you eat meat, you are eating off the top of the food chain. Animals that are not raised organic are fed hormones, antibiotics, and GMO feed, all of which is passed onto you.

To Eliminate Disease, Help Your Body Detox

Once you are eating right, you need to detox and avoid as many environmental toxins as possible. Give your immune system a rest. Use only organic soap, shampoo, skin care products, perfumes, colognes, cleaning products, etc. Your immune system responds to viruses, bacteria, fungi (Candida is the main one), parasites, and toxins. If you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system needs all the help you can give it. Get rid of the chemicals. Remember that your skin is a sponge, soaking up whatever you put on it.

You must kill the overgrowth of Candida in your body. Chances are the “indiscriminate attacks” that your immune system makes on your tissues are either an attempt to kill Candida that is present throughout your body or it’s a response to the proteins and other food particles that are routinely released into the bloodstream from a leaky gut. To heal the body, kill the Candida and heal the gut.

You need to move. Your lymphatic system is an integral part of your immune system. In order to work properly, it must circulate. Rebounding is considered the best exercise to move the lymph, but other exercise works as well. Walk, run, swim, yoga, dance – just move.

A healthy immune system also requires vitamin D. The best source is the sun, but many of us don’t live in an optimal climate and many with autoimmune diseases are photosensitive. If you supplement, be sure to choose a quality vitamin.

Conclusion:

To heal the immune system, you must heal the whole body. The good news is that every cell in the body requires the same thing: elimination of toxins and high-quality nutrients.

To learn more about a healthy diet, read 80% Raw Food Diet. To learn how to detox safely, read about a Total Detox Plan, How To Detoxify from Vaccines and Heavy Metals, and Inexpensive Easy Detox. (But know you will need to do a full detox.)

Autoimmune disease usually starts in the gut, and typically ends with healing the thyroid. Check out , How To Kill Candida and Balance Your Inner Ecosystem and see Understand Hypothyroidism – Prevention and Natural Remedies.

Recommended Supplements:
Further Reading:
Sources:


Mercury Fillings, Root Canals, Cavitations – What You Need to Know

Is your mouth making you sick?

You can tell a lot about a person’s health by the condition of their mouth. It’s almost impossible to have a sick body and a healthy mouth or to have a healthy body and a sick mouth. You can, however, have a sick mouth and not know it. Your mercury filling can be leeching mercury particles or mercury vapor that is poisoning your tissues. Your root canal or your jawbone can be oozing potent toxins, even though you feel no pain.

Brian’s Amalgam (mercury) Fillings

Brian was an honor student at age fourteen. Within a month after his trip to the dentist, his world changed. Suddenly he experienced ongoing fatigue and a “brain fog” so severe he could not concentrate for more than ten minutes at a time. Honors classes became a thing of the past, while Brian, who had always been a happy well-adjusted teen, grappled with suicidal thoughts.

Ten years later Brian was searching the web for a means to treat his persistent body acne when one site said the treatment probably wouldn’t work unless mercury fillings were removed first. After a little research, Brian realized his fatigue, lack of attention, fogginess, and the metallic taste in his mouth all coincided with the dental visit when he acquired ten amalgam (mercury) fillings in his teeth. Just the removal of the first three amalgams resulted in a dramatic increase in mental clarity.

Melanie’s Root Canal

Melanie was a young mother of two children and a housewife when she became ill. First her ear began popping every time she swallowed and she could feel the pressure of fluid in her ear. Soon it was hard to swallow. Gynecological problems were followed by systemic symptoms of overwhelming pain and fatigue. Eventually, Melanie, sick as she was, was forced to go get a job in order to pay her medical bills. She was miserable and in constant pain until the day she had her dead tooth pulled. Before any of her symptoms began, Melanie had an infected tooth and a subsequent root canal. Although she experienced no pain at the site, the tooth was the root of her health problems. She felt better the first day that tooth was pulled, and all of her symptoms disappeared with a few months.

Nicole’s Cavitations

Soon after having her wisdom teeth removed, Nicole experienced extreme chronic pain on her left side, overwhelming fatigue, hair loss, “severe brain fog” and an increase in allergies and chemical sensitivities. She regained some of her health through an organic diet (alleviation of the chronic pain and brain fog) before finding information about cavitations—infections in the crater and bone left behind after an extraction. Now that her infections are being treated, her other symptoms are disappearing as well; her hair is growing back and she has fewer allergies and chemical sensitivities.

Mercury, root canals, and extractions can be the root of many illnesses

Few people are aware that auto-immune disease, chronic illnesses, and acute illnesses may be related to mercury poisoning from dental fillings or unresolved infection involving a root canal or extraction. In our society, conventional medicine and conventional dentistry both separate the mouth from the rest of the body, not realizing the synergistic relationship between each tooth and vital organs or the mouth’s ability to create systemic illness.

A tooth is arguably an organ in itself, and many holistic dentists view it as one. Each tooth is also connected to other organs, tissues, glands etc. through the meridians of the body. Disease with a dead tooth (root canal) or bone and tissue disease due to extractions (cavitations) not only leech toxins into the body, causing a challenge for the immune system, there is also a deleterious effect on organs and tissues of the corresponding meridian. This meridian connection goes both ways. “…my studies kept bringing me back to the role of dental procedures and dental diseases in general health conditions and to how oral disease is often a sign of systemic illness,” writes Dr. Alison Adams, a former dentist who became a naturopath. Systemic illness is also often a sign of undiagnosed oral disease.

Mercury fillings–amalgam

Mercury fillings slowly leech mercury and mercury vapor, causing a multitude of problems in the body including disruption of the nervous system, the immune system, the circulatory system, and the reproductive system. Mercury can damage the brain, heart, kidneys, and lungs—virtually every organ and every system in the body.

Mercury binds selenium, keeping it from fighting cancer cells. Nearly every process in the body relies on sulphur—hormones, enzymes, nerve tissue, and red blood cells, but mercury binds to sulfur, inactivating it.

Mercury binding to proteins may affect the immune system’s ability to recognize cancerous cells and normal cells, resulting in cancerous cells growing while the immune system attacks normal, healthy tissues resulting in auto-immune disease. It decreases liver detoxification and breaks DNA.

Mercury is found in the center of tumors. It plays a major role in reproductive and endocrine cancers. It also collects in the mouth and jaw with heavy collections of mercury in cavitations.

Mercury creates an anaerobic environment, one in which Candida flourishes. When mercury fillings are removed and a mercury detox is completed, Candidiasis significantly improves or resolves.

Dr. Adams states, “There are many thousands of documented cases where removal of amalgam fillings when combined with mercury detoxification and nutritional support has cured or significantly improved serious health problems including cancers such as multiple myeloma and leukemia.”

Mercury fillings can be removed and replaced, though it is imperative to your health that you choose a properly trained dentist to perform the removal, one who will make every effort to minimize your mercury exposure throughout the process. Look for biological dentists (those who practice holistic care).

In the meantime, it is important to continue a diet and supplement regime to aid your body is releasing the mercury already in your system as well as the mercury your fillings continue to release into your body with each day.

It is best to get your amalgam fillings properly removed as soon as possible. Do not ignore your need to keep flushing mercury from your body before and after the procedure.

Root canals

After a root canal is performed, the tooth is dead. The remaining tissue and structure now provides a ripe environment for infection. Tooth material (dentine) is not solid. It is rife with tubules—incredibly small canals or tunnels. If you were to stretch out the tubules in each tooth, tubules from incisors would reach 3 miles, while tubules from molars would reach 9 miles.

Once the pulp is removed from the tooth, there is no longer a blood or oxygen supply. The bacteria that remain can mutate to an anaerobic form and multiply until there are millions living within the tubules of the dead tooth. From there, they secrete potent toxins.

Holistic practitioners are finding these dead teeth are often a source of disease for the body—everything from unexplained symptoms to cancer. For example, Dr. Garcia tells of a woman who consulted several doctors for a mysterious swelling in one leg. Within one day after Dr. Garcia removed the woman’s tooth (an old root canal), the swelling was gone. When Dr. Thomas Rau, a Swiss physician who specializes in breast cancer, learned of the possible link between root canals and cancer, he investigated his last 150 patients and found that 97% of them did have one or more root canals—and they were on the same meridian side of the body as the cancer!

A dead tooth may spew toxins into the body with no detectable symptoms—no pain, no swelling of the gums—nothing to alert you that it is wrecking havoc upon your immune system and causing chronic and acute medical conditions that you are attempting to cure.

Speak with your holistic dentist about extracting and replacing cadaverous teeth and how to proceed with ongoing dental care. In the meantime, you must eat a diet that aids you in detoxing, while building the immune system.

Cavitations

Cavitations are infection of the bone after tooth extraction. It is believed that most of these infections are caused by two things: leaving the tendon that was attached to the tooth and not excavating the site of infection. Another cause may be the use of drugs during the procedure that cut off the blood flow to the site.

The best practice is to clean out the site, remove any dead tissue, bone, and the tendon, then allow the blood to clot. This blood clot forms the site for new cells to grow, to actually fill in the missing bone and build new healthy tissue. A dry socket or a closed site over active infection does not allow this healing process to occur.

When cavitations occur, they are often asymptomatic. Although the bone is being eaten by nasty anaerobic bacteria, there may be no pain. The bacteria, however, is exuding powerful toxins that may be causing damage to your immune system or the toxins may be the underlying cause of your chronic health condition(s).

Living with Toxic Teeth

Whether you are dealing with mercury, root canals, or cavitations, your immune system is under attack. Toxins or heavy metals are bombarding it, so you must give your immune system all of the nutritional support possible, while doing your best not to add to its burden.

Ideally, one would get their teeth fixed. Obviously there are many reasons why this isn’t always possible because of finances and many other reasons. If you are getting you teeth fixed, do lots of research and make sure your dentist is competent and knowledgeable of the health implications. If you need to wait, or for what ever reason, you’re stuck with a toxic mouth, there are steps you can take to dramatically reduce the dire effects of these common dentistry procedures.

To give your immune system support, eat a wide variety of nutrient dense foods. To avoid adding to your immune system’s burden, make sure those foods are organic. This is not the time for your immune system to have the additional burden of pesticides and herbicides or artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, MSG, GMOs or trans fats.

Your diet should consist of 80% fresh, raw, organic vegetables and fruits (more vegetables than fruits), and the remaining 20% should be whole foods as well. Refined sugars should be eliminated.

Many fruits and vegetables, especially when they’re eaten raw, chelate heavy metals and remove other toxins from the body. Both raw garlic and cilantro are well known for their powerful chelating properties. Try Shillington’s Total Tonic Recipe (or buy it here) to help restore health, balance PH, strengthen the immune system, and help pull heavy metals from the body:

  • 1 Handful of Garlic Cloves
  • 1 Handful of chopped Onions
  • 1 Handful of chopped Ginger
  • 1 Handful of chopped Horseradish
  • 1/2 handful of chopped Habanero Peppers

Throw in a blender and cover with an inch or two of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.

All ingredients should be ORGANIC, but don’t let that stop you from making this great formula. You can use the mash right away or wait two weeks and tincture.

We also recommend HM Complex –from Pure Encapsulations (it doesn’t pull out important minerals like many other chelation supplements do). The combination, with a healthy diet, will work remarkably well to pull out heavy metals and other toxins. Be sure to drink lots of water as well. Better yet, check out this cranberry stevia lemonade recipe.

When dealing with mercury fillings, cavitations, and root canals, repairing (if necessary) and boosting the immune system is of paramount importance. Garlic should be your new best friend. Always keep the gut as healthy and balanced as possible. The idea is to make your blood uninhabitable to harmful pathogens (and Shillington’s Blood Detox can help with that, too). The human body can handle a heavy toxic burden when the diet is right and the body is getting lots of nutrition. Combine that with immune boosting, anti-pathogen herbs and supplements and some people find themselves healthier than the average person without those dental toxins in their mouths.

Take care of your teeth and gums as best you can. See Heal Cavities, Gum Disease, Naturally. Here’s a recipe from that article that everyone with any teeth or gum issues should have. Below that, we also have Shillington’s Blood Detox recipe. This is a very powerful tincture (and it comes as a tea, too); it’s life changing; it’s the most powerful tincture I know of for overall better health.

Doc Shillington’s Tooth and Gum Formula Recipe (click here to purchase):

(Use organic ingredients whenever possible).

  • 10 oz Echinacea Tincture
  • 1/4 cup of Tea Tree Oil
  • 4 oz. Bayberry Tincture
  • 2 oz. Oak Gall (or 3X Oak Bark) Tincture
  • 2 TBS. Cayenne Tincture
  • 2 1/2 Dropperfuls of Peppermint Oil
  • 2 1/2 Dropperfuls of Clove Oil

A dropperful is considered to be about 1/2 way up the dropper from a two ounce bottle.

Doc Shillington’s Blood Detox Recipe:

Blood Detox Tincture (click here to purchase):

(Mix the following by volume, and make a standard tincture using 100 proof vodka as your menstrum)

  • 2 – parts Red Clover Blossoms
  • 2 – parts Chaparral
  • 1 – part Lobelia
  • 1 – part Cayenne
  • 1 – part freshly chopped Garlic Bulb
  • 1 – part Burdock Seed & Root
  • 1 – part Poke Root
  • 1 – part Yellow Dock Root
  • 1 – part Goldenseal Root
  • 1 – part Oregon Grape Root
  • 1 – part Blood Root Sap
  • 1 – part European Mistletoe
  • 1 – part Periwinkle Flowers
Blood Detox Tea (click here to purchase):

Use the exact same herbs as above in exactly the same proportions and make as a decoction only. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 15 minutes, then drink.

Take chlorella, spirulina, and lots of vitamin C, from a trustworthy whole food source, and eat tons of salad with a wide variety of produce. Check out this recipe,  Total Nutrition Make Your Own Homemade Multivitamin and Mineral Formula, and see this Salad Recipe here at Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included.

Conclusion

Most importantly, detoxify regularly, eat a strict diet with lots of raw produce, and take additional measures to keep the immune system exceptionally strong.

Recommended Supplements:
Further Reading:

Sources: