Can you really fight wrinkles from the inside out? Yes and there’s a fruit that can help.

It’s papaya. What makes papaya so perfect? Easy. Vitamin C. Papaya has loads of it, and getting lots of vitamin C may mean more youthful skin — fewer wrinkles and less thinning and dryness. A recent study in women over 40 confirmed it.

The Mysteries of C
Vitamin C is a natural friend to skin. The nutrient is essential for making collagen, the protein fibers that give skin its strength and resiliency. And being a powerful antioxidant, C also disarms free radicals that would otherwise chip away and weaken collagen. (Did you know? Vitamin C helps protect skin from this sun scourge, too.)

More Food for Your Face
A little extra vitamin C isn’t all it takes to plump your complexion. Here are a few more food tips that can help keep your face fresh:

• Munch on walnuts. In the vitamin C study, researchers also noted that diets rich in linoleic acid — an essential fatty acid in walnuts — meant moister, plumper skin. (Bonus: Walnuts will make this happy, too.)
• Ease up on fats and refined carbs. Scientists found both were linked to aging skin. Discover the dark side of processed foods with this article.
• Think whole grains. The magnesium and B vitamins you get from them help with the regeneration of skin cells. Find out what foods are mostly whole grains.
• Keep the fruits and veggies coming. To stay smooth and healthy, your skin needs a whole slew of antioxidant-rich produce. Like this root vegetable.

Read this article for a complete chart of healthy food choices for your skin.

Real Benefit: Eating a diverse diet that includes 4 servings of fruit per day can make your RealAge as much as 4 years younger.

References Published  

Dietary nutrient intakes and skin-aging appearance among middle-aged American women Cosgrove, M. C., Franco, O. H., Granger, S. P., Murray, P. G., Mayes, A. E., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007 Oct;86

Is there a right way to check your breasts for early signs of cancer? Many women remain confused as experts now say there is no evidence that rigorous monthly “self-examination” — widely recommended in the United States — reduces breast cancer deaths. Plus, it can lead to unnecessary biopsies.

Two large studies looking at a total of more than 388,000 women found that death rates from breast cancer were the same among women who rigorously self-examined as those who did not, while there were almost twice the number of biopsy operations in the self-examination group.

According to some experts, the best way for a woman to check her breasts is not to follow a strict examination routine, but to get to know what is normal, and feel them regularly for signs of any changes.

In this video, Dr. Mercola interviews Dr. William Grant, Ph.D., internationally recognized research scientist and vitamin D expert, reveals the important role vitamin D plays in your health.

Dr. Grant, whose background is in atmospheric sciences, has applied the ecologic approach to the study of dietary and environmental links to chronic disease. He has worked at the level of senior research scientist at such notable institutions as SRI International, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the NASA Langley Research Center.

More recently, Dr. Grant has uncovered exciting potential for the use of vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of a number of high-incidence cancers found in Western populations. He is the director of the Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center (SUNARC), an entity devoted to research, education, and advocacy relating to the prevention of chronic disease through changes in diet and lifestyle.

Dr. Grant has also authored or coauthored over 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals, edited two books of reprints, and contributed half a dozen chapters to other books.

New research shows that to get an optimal vitamin D supplement from the sun at a minimal risk of getting cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), the best time of sun exposure is noon.

That means that common health recommendations given by authorities in many countries — that sun exposure should be avoided for three to five hours around noon and postponed to the afternoon — could be wrong and may even promote CMM.

This is in part because the action spectrum for CMM is likely to be centered at longer wavelengths than that of vitamin D generation.

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Sources: Advanced Experiments in Medical Biology 2008; 624: 86-88

You may know that I’m not a big fan of fat. In fact, I recommend you keep your fat intake to just 10% of the calories they eat. And I’m especially wary of processed fats, like vegetable oil. However, there is a processed fat that can scrub your arteries clean.
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Researchers recently studied 199 people, average age 67, at high risk of arterial disease. Those at the highest end of olive oil use showed a 92% reduced risk of thickening of the all-important inner/middle portions of their carotid arteries.
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We don’t want our arteries getting thicker with gunk! And olive oil can keep your arteries clean and healthy. Olive oil happens to have many wonderful plant chemicals that protect you. These include anti-oxidants and phytosterols.

Phytosterols are a cholesterol-like molecules. Plants use these for stability of their cell membranes in a similar fashion to animals using cholesterol. Only the phytosterols you ingest compete with your ingestion of cholesterol for absorption. So your net effect of eating plants containing phytosterols is a naturally lower cholesterol. That’s why olive oil is so good for your arteries.

We’ve known for decades that olive oil protects your heart and helps prevent heart attacks. But now here’s another great reason to substitute a little olive oil for the bad fats in your diet. And you don’t need a lot of it to find the protection. Just a little bit goes a long way – especially if you’re at risk for arterial disease.  

There’s a lot of confusion surrounding omega-3 fatty acid products.
Many people think they can buy cheap fatty acid products and get the healthy oils their body needs. But there’s a problem with these low-quality oils: They may be highly toxic!
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Supplement manufacturers extract the low-quality oils using a toxic solvent. Take those produced by Martel Biosciences Corporation. This company produces artificially extracted omega oils. They call these oils DHASCO and ARASCO. The source of Martek´s products are a fermented algae and fungus. But that’s not the biggest concern.
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They extract the oils using hexane, a synthetic solvent petrochemical. It’s similar to gasoline and is highly toxic to your brain’s neurons. Furthermore, Martek’s products don’t match the omega content of high-quality oils. They also contain sunflower oil, diglycerides, and nonsaponifiable materials.
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These oils are a major component of many infant baby formulas. And the side effects are not good. Many infants who drank these formulas now suffer from intractable diarrhea. Since it’s early in the use of these chemical products in human infants, we haven’t a clue as to the long-term neurological complications. We also don’t know how these toxins will affect your brain. But you can be sure they won’t provide you with optimum nutrition you need.
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Omega fatty acids are one place where I strongly urge you not to skimp on quality. To do so will also subject you to hexane extracted oils. If you want to use an omega-3 supplement, I strongly suggest you stick with high-quality oil. There are many on the market. Most brands of cod liver oil are high-quality. I also like marine oils from Carlson’s or Arctic Omega.

By Robert Jay Rowen, MD

Most people worry that getting too much sun can cause vision problems. But now there’s evidence that not getting enough sun can make you go blind.
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In a new study, researchers followed 7,752 subjects. Of those, 11% had macular degeneration. The researchers found that those in the highest quintile of serum vitamin D levels had the best protection. In fact, they had a 36% lower risk of developing the eye disease.

The researchers also looked at milk to see if it protected the eyes. They found that it did not help at all. In fact, supplemental vitamin D actually worked a bit better in the people who didn’t consume milk. The reason? Milk companies typically use an inferior form of vitamin D (synthetic vitamin D2) to fortify milk.

I talk to hundreds of doctors every year. Most are in full agreement with me that we’re witnessing an epidemic of insufficient vitamin D levels in our population. I find deficient levels in the vast majority of people I check. Even Terri and I were low in late winter.

That’s why I take 5,000 IU daily of vitamin D. It quickly improved my levels. If you’re taking vitamin D for a deficiency, please get a recheck. Many people need more than what we consider a generous dose. Some people need as much as 10,000 IU daily.

Copyright © 2008 Soundview Communications, Inc.

Coffee Controversies

Although coffee is one of the most heavily researched commodities and studies have spanned decades, there is still much controversy surrounding its effects on health. Study after study is performed–often with conflicting results–and it seems there is always a new study out to discount the last one.

For example, one 2004 study found that drinking coffee disrupted short-term word recall. This was promptly followed up by research published the following year, showing that the equivalent of two cups of coffee could improve short-term memory, prioritizing information efficiently, planning new tasks, and dealing with stored information.

So, what’s the real deal on coffee?

Should You Drink Coffee?

It appears that drinking coffee may interfere with your body’s ability to keep homocysteine and cholesterol levels in check, most likely by inhibiting the action of the vitamins folate, B12 or B6. Coffee has been previously associated with increased risk of stroke and rheumatoid arthritis. Studies have also shown that caffeine in coffee can raise blood pressure and levels of stress hormones, and if consumed in large quantities it can lead to heart palpitations, jitters and nervousness.

With that said, coffee is clearly not the healthiest liquid to drink – your best choice is pure water – but coffee is still far less dangerous than fruit juice or soda. 

While I do believe that eliminating, or at the very least limiting, coffee should be one of your goals, if you are in the midst of other dietary changes, such as those outlined in my nutrition plan eliminating coffee can be put toward the bottom of the list. You’ll definitely want to eliminate soda and fruit juice from your beverage list first.

Source: Mercola.com

As you age, it’s common for your arteries to function less efficiently. If your arteries are healthy, they should be “relaxed” or dilated. This means they are less stiff. Age stiffens them. But researchers recently found that a powerful nutrient can relax your arteries and restore their function.

Research has linked accumulation of ceramides to stiffening arteries. Ceramides are fatty deposits that form when undesirable fatty acids hook to a long-chain base. Acids are naturally attracted to their opposites — bases.

Researchers thought that ceramide accumulation might be due to age-related loss of glutathione in endothelial cells (inner lining cells of your arteries).

So, in this study, the researchers measured relaxation in the aorta of experimental old rats. They found that glutathione levels in the lining cells were 30% less than in younger rats. The researchers gave the rats the trademarked form of ALA.

The results were impressive. Arterial relaxation improved. So did glutathione levels. What intrigued me the most was that ceramides levels fell as well. This has far-reaching implications for just about every human health condition.

I’ve told you in the past about the many incredible health benefits of ALA. I’ve also told you about phospholipids, which can soften stiff arteries. My colleagues and I have seen stunning reversals of conditions such as neurological degeneration, autism, Parkinson’s disease, and more. And now we know that ALA can have a similar impact.

Now we learn that ALA reduces ceramide and restores arterial health. The researchers also found that it restores nitric oxide metabolism, which is critical for arterial dilation. I can only say, “Wow!”

There are two types of ALA on the market. The generic ALA and the trademarked variety. I personally don’t feel you need to spend significantly more money for the expensive trademarked form. I’ve found the cheaper ALA simply marvelous. I typically recommend 100-300 mg daily. I think that ALA should be at the top of the list in most anyone’s anti-aging and preservation of health program.

Most people are absolutely clueless about just how toxic mercury is. It is toxic at one in one billion-part quantities.  That is about the same concentration of one grain of salt in one swimming pool.  That is why having mercury fillings is such a major challenge to your health.

Heavy metal toxicity, just like chemical toxicity, has become one of the most pressing health hazards of our day. Your body is assailed by chemicals and heavy metals on a daily basis, oftentimes from the most innocent-looking sources, from your everyday cookware to your child’s rubber ducky.

It has now gotten to the point where babies are being BORN toxic due to the toxic load of their mothers. A 2004 study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that blood samples from newborns contained an average of 287 toxins, including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides and Teflon chemicals.

Despite these dire warning signs, giant corporations and industry advocates like DuPont and The American Chemistry Council are fighting tooth and nail to block any and all proposed bans on toxic agents that happen to be part of their profit-making schemes. According to EnviroBlog, the latest army of lobbyists is trying to crush U.S. Senate Bill 1313, which calls for a ban of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in concentrations exceeding 0.1 percent from food packaging, for example.

And California State Senate Bill 1713, which would ban BPA from baby bottles and toys, is also under attack by hired guns who are trying to scare everyone into believing this bill will put an end to all canned and jarred goods.

If there ever was a time to get more involved in the political process – as these are serious survival issues — now might be a good time.

How Do You Know if You’re Suffering from Heavy Metal Toxicity?

Acute heavy metal toxicity is a lot easier to diagnose than that of chronic exposure. Indications of acute toxicity include:

• Sudden, severe cramping and/or convulsions
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• Headache
• Difficulty breathing
• Impaired cognitive, motor and language skills

Symptoms of toxic build-up due to chronic heavy metal exposure, however, are much more subtle, in large part because these symptoms are so “common,” such as:

• Fatigue
• Digestive distress, and reduced ability to properly assimilate and utilize fats
• Aching joints
• Depression
• Impaired blood sugar regulation
• Female reproductive problems such as menstrual difficulties, infertility, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension and premature birth

Sound like anyone you know?

Add to that your exposure to toxic fluoride in your municipal drinking water, which actually increases your body’s uptake of aluminum, in addition to all the other health damaging effects it has in and of itself, and it’s no wonder you’re feeling less than great.

Why is Your Diet so Important When it Comes to Heavy Metal Detox?

In addition to limiting your exposure to toxic metals, which I will go over shortly, you need to focus on eating a healthy diet, preferably based on your nutritional type to reap the maximum overall health benefits.

The Weston A. Price diet recommendations, which were written in 1920 and still, like all truths, hold true today, includes these timeless guidelines:

• Eat foods that are natural, unprocessed, and organic (and contain no sugar except for the occasional bit of honey or maple syrup).
• Eat foods that grow in your native environment. In other words, eat locally grown, seasonal foods.
• Eat unpasteurized dairy products (such as raw milk) and fermented foods.
• Eat at least one-third of your food raw.
• Make sure you eat enough healthy fats, including those from animal sources like omega-3 fat, and reduce your intake of omega-6 from vegetable oils.

As Dr. Daniel et.al. explain in this article, optimal nutrition is essential when dealing with heavy metal toxicity because if you are deficient in essential metals, your body will use toxic heavy metals as “stand-ins” instead. For example:

• Calcium is replaced by lead, which deposits primarily in bone, and disrupts the formation of red blood cells. Lead contributes to poor bone health such as osteopenia and osteoporosis.
• Zinc is replaced by cadmium, which tends to accumulate heavily in your kidneys. Cadmium overload is associated with peripheral neuropathy.
• Magnesium is replaced by aluminum, which, among other things, induces neurochemical changes and has been identified as a contributing factor to developing Alzheimer’s.
• Manganese is replaced by nickel, which is carcinogenic.

Secondly, you also need vital nutrients to aid your natural detoxification process.

Guidelines for Reducing Your Heavy Metal Exposure

It may seem like a fight you’re destined to lose, however I firmly believe you can reduce you exposure to heavy metals quite dramatically, thereby giving your body a fighting chance to eliminate accumulated toxins and restore health.

These guidelines can help limit your exposure:

• Use glass, cast iron, carbon steel, titanium, and enamel cookware. Both aluminum and Teflon are well known for their toxic dangers, and stainless steel can expose you to carcinogenic nickel.

• Minimize consumption of restaurant food as restaurants are required to use stainless steel pots and vats.

• Avoid stainless steel thermoses; the glass lined kinds are best. Later this year I will be offering glass water bottles that can also be used in lieu of a thermos, with neoprene sleeves to protect them from breaking.
• Avoid  cosmetics with aluminum bases, mineral powders that contain bismuth, and aluminum-laden antiperspirants, which have been shown to increase your Alzheimer’s risk by as much as 300 percent!

• Avoid vaccinations that inject mercury or aluminum directly into your bloodstream.

• Avoid and remove dental amalgam fillings.
• Avoid stainless steel orthodontics such as braces and palate wideners.
• Avoid costume jewelry if you are sensitive to metals.
• Avoid smoking and second hand smoke as it causes cadmium poisoning.
• Make sure you purchase your natural herbal remedies from a reputable source with strict quality testing. Some colloidal silvers can lead to silver poisoning, and some folk remedies can be high in mercury, lead and arsenic, either due to alleged medicinal properties or through unintentional contamination.
• Avoid conventional household cleaning products.
• Avoid conventional insecticides and herbicides. Also be VERY cautious when using the “natural alternative” Borax (boric acid), which can also cause serious health problems, including death.

 © Copyright 2008 Dr. Joseph Mercola.

I just found two new studies confirming the amazing health benefits of one of my favorite spices. According to these two new studies, this spice can literally save your heart – especially if you take statins to lower your cholesterol.

The two animal studies show that turmeric (a.k.a., curcumin) can prevent heart failure. In one study, curcumin both prevented and reversed heart enlargement both in test tube heart cells and in living mice. Heart enlargement is a step toward heart failure.

In the second study, researchers were able to confirm the first. They examined curcumin’s effects in living animals with two different heart-failure models. One group had hypertensive heart disease and heart disease salt-sensitive rats. The other had surgically induced myocardial infarction in rats. In both groups, curcumin prevented heart failure. It did so by preventing increases in both heart wall thickness and diameter.

When you consider the epidemic of heart failure we’re seeing today, these studies are huge news. This epidemic is sure to grow with the escalating use of heart failure-promoting statins. Another fact about curcumin that I absolutely love – and you will too – is that it’s dirt cheap. It’s available at any grocery store. And all you have to do is add a tablespoon of curry powder to your meals every day and you’ll get plenty. My wife and I use lots of curry.