Sunscreen Lies, Truths and Recommendations

My good friend, Beverly Meyer (from the Diet and Health Center), was listening recently to a radio show on skin cancer.  She was so upset by what she heard that she knew she had to write an article about this, and I agreed with her and wanted to share it with you.

The speakers were completely focused on blocking the sun’s rays as THE cause of and protection for skin cancer.  They never discussed the very toxic and disturbing studies on sunblock use, and they never discussed the dangers of hydrogenated oils (trans fats) in the diet, and chemicals in skin care products and in our food and water as additional known causes of skin cancer.

From a naturopathic point of view, hydrogenated oils in fast foods, baked goods, chips, salad dressings, cereals, margarine, fried foods and more, poison the skin cells that use our natural cholesterol to react with the sun to form Vitamin D.  Yet another reason to never eat these oils again!

Let’s talk about sunscreens a bit.

First of all, our modern obsession with skin cancer and skin aging is/was unknown to traditional farmers and hunters who spend their lives outside, or to our grandparents’ generation who farmed and ranched (before hydrogenated oils and toxic skin care products became ubiquitous).

Humans turn brown in the sun by producing melanin to protect the skin. Humans evolving in equatorial climates developed dark skin.  Those who then migrated to cooler climates with less direct sun have light skin.  So, our skin understands sunlight and knows how to handle it.

But if you have light skin and want to be outside for hours in the sun, what do you do?

The FIRST line of defense is shade, hats, and clothing.  And limiting the length of sun exposure so you do not burn. Avoid direct overhead sun at all times, if possible.  Having a tan will help protect you from burning. Moisturize with chemical-free oils and lotions (such as Aubrey or Weleda) to feed the skin after sun exposure.

Secondly, if sunscreens must be used, research by the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org ) says to choose “mineral” sunscreens over “chemical” sunscreens. The “mineral” sunscreens will usually use that term right on the label. More on this in a minute…

Here are some facts about sunscreens:

1).  Sunscreens prevent sunburn, but beyond that, surprisingly little is known about their safety or efficacy.  They do NOT protect against radiation damage.

2).  There is NO consensus on whether sunscreens prevent skin cancer.  The FDA said in 2007 that “The FDA is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps to prevent skin cancer”.

3).  There is some evidence that sunscreen use may actually INCREASE the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.  Why?  Perhaps because we stay in the sun’s radiation longer, or the free radicals released in sunscreen chemicals break down in sunlight, playing a role in “poisoning” the skin.

4).  There is no proof whatsoever that SPF’s over 50 are of increased value.  Indeed, SPF 15 is all we really need and can utilize.  The rest is just marketing.

5).  Sun screens block Vitamin D, one of the most important of all Vitamins.  We are supposed to get 15 minutes daily of unblocked sun, full body.  But who is doing that?  So, for most of us, getting a little sun may mean the difference between breast cancer, osteoporosis, asthma, depression, colon cancer, or, healthy old age.

6).  Topical Vitamin A reacts to sunlight and forms compounds that may increase development of skin cancer.  40% of all sunscreens have retinyl palmitate in them and should NOT be used. (It’s OK if your skin lotions and night moisturizers have Vitamin A – just don’t sit in the sun with them).

7).  Both UV radiation and many common sunscreen ingredients generate free radicals that damage DNA and skin cells, accelerate aging, and CAUSE skin cancer.  An effective sunscreen PREVENTS more damage than it causes, but sunscreens are far better at preventing burn than limiting free radical damage.  If you use too little screen, or apply it too infrequently (reapply every two hours or as label directs), it can cause MORE free radical damage than UV rays on the bare skin.  Tanning beds are prime offenders as they use focused ionizing radiation.

8).  So we have 3 choices.  First, take your sun when the sun is not directly overhead.  Add a hat, light clothing, shoes, and some shade.  If you are to get direct sun, cover what you can, and choose your sunscreen carefully.

Secondly, the best screens use Zinc or Titanium as mineral blockers to prevent the sun entering your skin.  They are stable in the sun (which “chemical” sunscreens are not), they don’t penetrate the skin and move toxic substances into the body, and they offer UVA protection (which “chemical” screens do not).

The best brands, according to the Environmental Working Group, include Badger, California Baby, Jason, Kabana, Loving Naturals, and Soleo Organics.  I would try Whole Foods, SunHarvest, or the Internet for these.

Thirdly, chemical screens can be extremely dangerous and I do not recommend them to anyone.  Your body absorbs these man-made chemicals and, as said above, they may actually do harm to the skin.  I know they do harm to your liver!

That being said, the best chemical brand is Coppertone, especially these particular products:  Ultra Guard Sunscreen Lotion SPF 15; Oil-Free Lotion SPF 15; and Sport Sunblock SPF 15.

9).  Last but not least.  Change ALL your skin care products to organic, natural, chemical- free goods with no parabens, no SLS, no colors, fragrances, or five syllable words!  Anything you put on your skin goes into your body.

If it’s not good enough to eat with a fork, don’t put it on your skin…

If you would like to join Beverly Meyer’s newsletter list please visit www.dietandhealthcenter.info

Gluten Sensitivity in Dogs

Shandra Baker, author of Dog Food Dangers, shares with us today some vital information on how your dog can be suffering with gluten allergies and what you can do about it.

Gluten allergy, medically described as celiac disease, is a fairly common food allergy in canines.  It can develop at any point in a dog’s life and manifests a variety of symptoms, including skin and bowel problems.

After diagnosis, a lifelong change in diet is usually required to treat the condition.

But what is GLUTEN?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat and many other flours that’s often added to commercial pet food. Dogs, like humans and other animals, can develop a sensitivity or allergy to it if through repeat exposure or as an acute reaction to a single exposure.

Gluten allergy causes the inflammation and destruction of the interior of the small intestine, thus preventing nutrients and vitamins from being properly absorbed.  Moreover, gluten irritates the large intestine, causing colitis, which results in bowel problems. Food allergies at large account for about 10 percent of dog allergies.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Symptoms of gluten allergy include itchy, flaky, and subsequently irritated skin as well as upset bowels.  Other symptoms include hypertension, weight loss, lack of energy and changes in behavior. In the past, the only way to diagnose a food allergy was to replace the existing diet with one containing none of the same ingredients. Today, a simple blood test can indicate an allergy, although the exclusion diet is still widely employed.

WHAT TO DO?

Gluten is ubiquitous in processed pet food and treats and is sometimes omitted from listing on ingredient labels because of its implicit presence in other substances (this includes wheat, cereals and products of animal or vegetable origin). As such, foods explicitly labeled gluten free or homemade meals are the best option for dogs with gluten allergy.

A true allergy cannot but cured, thus the allergen must be removed from the animal’s diet and avoided. A lifelong food can gradually become an irritant or even an allergy over time, thus making initial diagnosis difficult. While a homemade food is the best option for pet owners, there are many varieties of gluten-free diets, although getting a dog to change foods can be difficult.

Other common food allergies in dogs include corn, soya, preservatives, beef, pork, chicken, milk, eggs and fish.

Can You Teach a Cat Tricks?

Who says you can’t teach a cat tricks? Believe it or not, a cat can learn almost any trick that a dog can learn. It just takes a little time, patience and communication. Today, we’ll focus on the most basic commands – sitting and standing.

What You Need:

* Your cat before mealtime

* A quiet area where your cat is comfortable

* A table for your cat

* A specific command (in this case, the words “sit” or “stand”), preceded by your cat’s name

* Your positive signal (a clicker, or an upbeat word such as “yes”)

* Your cat’s reward (favorite food or special treats)

Teaching Your Cat to Sit

1. Gently put your cat on the table at the edge nearest to you, and pet her so she is comfortable.

2. Show your cat the reward, then give the command “Fluffy, sit” and move the reward back and over her head.

3. As she tips her head back to follow the food, she will naturally sit to keep her balance. When she sits, hit the clicker (or use your positive signal) and say “sit, good sit”. Immediately give her the treat.

4. Eventually your cat should respond to the command “sit” without you having to dangle food over her head.

5. Once your cat has learned the behavior, you no longer need to place the cat on the table to sit.

In the beginning, if your cat does not sit on her own, you may gently press down on her hindquarters. Then hit the clicker (or use your positive signal) and say “sit, good sit.” Be gentle and patient. If she resists, try again another time. It’s always better to have her sit on her own.

Teaching Your Cat to Stand

Standing is one of the simplest tricks you can teach your cat, as they often assume the position naturally. Your goal is to have your cat stand up on her haunches when you give the command “up” while you hold the reward above her.

Training Steps

1. Put your cat on the table at the edge nearest to you, and pet her so she is comfortable.

2. Show her the reward, then give the command “Fluffy, up” while you hold the food directly above her (but not close enough that she can grab it).

3. When she stands on her hind legs or haunches and reaches for the food, hit the clicker (or use your positive signal) and say “up, good up.” Immediately give her the treat.

4. Eventually your cat should respond to the command “up” without you having to hold the food above her.

5. Once your cat has learned the behavior, you no longer need to place the cat on a table to sit up.

For those who may not think it’s kosher to teach a cat tricks, remember this. Training is all about learning how to communicate and work together, like in every good relationship.

Above all, training should be fun for you — and fun for your feline friend too. Now, go teach your kitty some new tricks!

4 Words That Silently Kill Relationships

It has been my experience that a great amount of the stress that occurs in a home/family situation comes from a lack of trust, or an inability to communicate effectively.  Your animals are ALWAYS directly affected by this type of stress.  Consequently, your animals may form behavior issues in an effort to deal with the stress in the home.

When I read this article by Susie and Otto Collins I thought that they did a wonderful job of boiling the core message of mistrust into some simple to understand statements.  And, they give some great tips on how to overcome mistrust in your relationships.

By Susie and Otto Collins

There are four words that almost NO one actually says out loud but millions of men and women sure think this about their spouse or partner.

What’s underneath these four words can literally suck the life and passion out of an otherwise good relationship. That’s why we say these four words are silent relationship killers. We know this sounds dramatic and we know what you’re probably thinking…

If they’re almost never spoken, how do they kill relationships? Good question. Glad you asked.

They kill relationships because they represent the predominant thought one person has for another–and what isn’t spoken can be just as powerful or even more so than what is spoken.

What are these 4 dangerous words?

They are, “I don’t trust you.”

Before you think all we’re talking about is what happens because of an affair, infidelity or one or both partners cheating on each other…

We’ll tell you that you certainly might feel like that if you’ve been lied to or cheated on but there’s much more to it when it comes to those four little words…

“I don’t trust you…”

What we’re talking about is taking you a little deeper into the whole idea of trust in an intimate relationship. The idea of “I don’t trust you” and a lack of trust can play out in a million different ways in a relationship.

For example…

*I don’t trust you to bring home your share of the money to pay our bills.”

*I don’t trust that you’ll be home on time for dinner as you said you would.”

*I don’t trust that you’ll not spend us into debt.”

*I don’t trust that you’ll watch the kids the way I do.”

*I don’t trust that you’ll do the laundry and not ruin my shirts.”

*I don’t trust that you’ll be open to making love with me tonight.”

*I don’t trust that you’ll be honest with me.”

You get the idea…

And if you’re honest with yourself, you can recognize where you’ve had those thoughts over and over about the person you love–we certainly have. While these thoughts of “I don’t trust you” are pretty normal, it’s important for you to become aware of them because of how they can negatively impact your relationship.

Early in our relationship, Otto would tell Susie every now and then that she didn’t trust him in certain ways. She denied it, but it turned out that when she really looked at her thoughts, it was true.

She didn’t trust him in certain ways that had nothing to do with him cheating. But her mistrust could have driven a huge wedge between the two of us if we hadn’t talked it out.

If mistrust becomes your predominant thought about your partner, you’re automatically building walls between the two of you. The other person feels your doubt and can withdraw or become angry, leaving the two of you with a lot that’s left that’s unsaid. And these walls affect your communication, your openness to intimacy, and whether your love grows or dies.

One of the agreements the two of us made at the beginning of our relationship was that if we were upset with something that the other had said or done, we would talk first with him or her and not first with people outside our relationship. That wasn’t always the case in our previous relationships and we paid the price of disconnection and the eventual end of those relationships. We didn’t trust that our previous partners would listen to what we had to say and that we could calmly talk about whatever we needed to–so we talked to other people instead of our partners.

So, what do you do if you have the thought that you don’t trust the other person to do or not do whatever it is that’s your issue–and you have good reason for your mistrust? You may have had that experience with this person in the past and you can’t turn your back on the idea that it will probably happen again. Or your lack of trust might have nothing to do with your partner, but rather experiences you’ve had in past relationships and as you were growing up.

How can you stop saying to yourself “I don’t trust you” when you really don’t trust him or her? If you’ve identified some places in your relationship and in yourself where you don’t trust and you don’t want to continue to allow this mistrust to come between the two of you–even something very small…

1. Identify what and who you really don’t trust. Look within for the real issues of your mistrust which may have started long before your current partner.

Take out pen and paper and write the words “I don’t trust you because…” and then keep writing anything that comes into your mind. Just keep writing and see what comes up.

2. Identify the source of your trust problem. If it turns out that you need to do some forgiving of someone in your past, remember that you are forgiving for YOU and not condoning what the person did–assuming that you are no longer being subjected to those actions anymore.

Actively choosing to no longer be tied to these wrongs that were done to you can be extremely freeing. You may need the help of a qualified therapist or coach to support you in this process.

3. In order to start trusting another person, you have to get in your mind what he or she has to do to become trustable to you. So start making your list and be specific.

4. Be courageous and talk with your partner about what’s been holding you back and ways you’ve been mistrusting him or her. Create some agreements and plans to move from mistrust even if it’s about something very insignificant.

One of issues of trust for us has been keeping our home straightened up, especially with Otto’s 21 year old son living with us. One of the “Magic Words” phrases that we use is “Tell me your plan for _______.”

Instead of worrying about whether whatever is in question will be put away or not., this phrase opens up communication instead of resentment.

Our suggestion to you is to make sure you don’t allow hidden mistrust to silently kill your love for each other. Take action and bring more love into your life.

If you would like to learn more about their Relationship Trust Turnaround program please visit http://budurl.com/k2k4

Quick Tips for People Suffering from Allergies to Animals

Having allergies doesn’t mean you have to give up your pet right away.  There are a number of solutions that can be attempted first.

*Rather than giving the animal free run of the house, restrict them to only certain rooms or increase the amount of time they spend outside.

*Make sure that the litter box is out of the way.

*Make the bedroom of the affected person completely off limits to the dog or cat.

*Run HEPA air filters and clean your home, especially carpets, often.

* Have the person with allergies avoid as much contact with the animal as possible, assuming there are other family members who can still love on and play with the animal.

* Give the animal frequent baths to remove dander, dust, pollen, dirt and spores, which are likely the cause of the allergy.

If these tips don’t work, you may have to entertain the idea of allergy shots, or simply having another type of animal in the house that doesn’t have dander, mold spores or other allergens.

Relationship Between Autistic Boy and Horse is One of Healing

How far would you travel to heal someone you love? An intensely personal yet epic spiritual journey, THE HORSE BOY follows one Texas couple and their autistic son as they trek on horseback through Outer Mongolia, in a desperate attempt to treat his condition with shamanic healing.

A complex condition that can dramatically affect social interaction and communication skills, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability today. After two-year-old Rowan Isaacson was diagnosed with autism, he ceased speaking, retreated into himself for hours at a time, and often screamed inconsolably for no apparent reason. Rupert Isaacson, a writer and former horse trainer, and his wife Kristin Neff, a psychologist.

Then they discovered that Rowan has a profound affinity for animals, particularly horses. When Rupert began to ride with Rowan every day, Rowan began to talk again and engage with the outside world. Was there a place on the planet that combined horses and healing? There was — Mongolia, the country where the horse was first domesticated, and where shamanism is the state religion. What if we were to take Rowan there, thought Rupert, and ride on horseback from shaman to shaman? What would happen?

THE HORSE BOY is a magical expedition from the wild open steppe to the sacred Lake Sharga. As the family sets off on a quest for a possible cure, Rupert and Kristin find their son is accepted — even treasured — for his differences. By telling one family’s extraordinary story, the film gives a voice to the thousands of families who are living with autism every day. As Rupert and Kristin struggle to make sense of their child’s autism, and find healing for him and themselves in this unlikeliest of places, Rowan makes dramatic leaps forward, astonishing both his parents.

I hope you get as much hope and inspiration from this film as I did.   Enjoy!

target=”_blank”>http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/horse-boy/film.html

Recipe for Dog Treats

What you need:

10 cups organic rye flour

6 cups organic barley flour

8 ounces organic apple puree

2 tablespoons organic cinnamon

6 cups of water – may vary a bit depending on weather

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and lightly grease cookie tray.

2. Mix all ingredients together, roll out to desired thickness, cut into bone shape biscuit, cookie shape, vegetable or shape of your choice. Place on lightly greased tray. For a shiny biscuit, brush with an egg wash (1 egg mixed with 1 teaspoon of water)

3. Place in pre-heated 325 degree oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cooking time will vary depending on how thick or thin you roll out the dough.

4. Cool thoroughly and store in cookie jar, no refrigeration needed. Thoroughly baked, they store for a very long time and usually last for a full year.

Yield is about 5 pounds of treats. Number of treats vary, depending on the size and shape you cut them. The whole house smells great while you are baking these!

Enjoy!

More Proof that Pets are Good for Our Health

The Real Dr. Doolittle Show With Val Heart – Guest Loesje Jacobs Talks About the Miracles of Healing Animals

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Loesje Jacobs who is world renowned for her work with animals.  It took me several months to connect with her, and I know our interview will delight and inspire you as much as it did me.  I wanted to know more about her work because, like me, she offers healing services including The BodyTalk System for animals and their people.  And she teaches BodyTalk all over the world!

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Loesje Jacobs who is world renowned for her work with animals.  It took me several months to connect with her, and I know our interview will delight and inspire you as much as it did me.  I wanted to know more about her work because, like me, she offers healing services including The BodyTalk System for animals and their people.  And she teaches BodyTalk all over the world! We discussed everything from healing elephants — to Joshua Baboon’s amazing message and guardianship — to the whales call for assistance — to the pink dolphins and their delightful work with the children.  Listen and be inspired as you learn more about healing with animals and the miracles Loesje has witnessed firsthand.  And of course, we also discussed The BodyTalk System of healing, and how it works with animals.  Enjoy!

Listen to the Interview now!

When Doggie Hates the Menu

You may well know the feeling of staring at your dog while he or she stares at the food dish, sighs, and looks at you with an expression which clearly says “You expect ME to eat THAT?”

At those moments, you may even be wondering why you simply don’t just get a cat, which would at least be coming to you with the reputation of being a picky eater.

Most of us dog owners have found themselves in the same situation at one time or another. And because you are a kind-hearted sort, your dog knows that if it waits long enough, sure enough, something really tasty shows up.  Mission accomplished. Owner happy, dog happy and dog just won round one. Many owners are fixated on their dog’s eating habits. That only makes things get worse and worse.

Once your dog knows it can wrangle something else out of you, it will keep on keeping on until it gets right out of hand. And if you think feeding him later will be easier, think again. It only gets worse. This type of behavior needs to be nipped in the bud immediately. Besides, who is the Alpha dog here anyhow – YOU or the dog?

Owners of finicky eaters can get caught up constantly changing their dog’s diet to try to get them to eat. This only makes your dog hold out to see if anything better is being offered. And then you have more problems to sort out.

And if you do make sudden dog diet changes, this can cause digestive upsets for your dog. Any diet change needs to be done slowly. Add a small amount of new food to your pet’s current food and gradually increase that amount while decreasing the amount of the current food over a seven to ten day period.

But right now what we are discussing is NOT catering to a fusspot – so changing foods constantly isn’t going to help matters any.

Have you ever purchased a whole stack of types of dog food (canned and dry) to let your dog figure out what he likes? Not a good idea, because if he doesn’t like anything, three guesses who will be running out and trying to find something better. Right – you!

What can you do?

The basic rule of thumb is if that any dog which gets hungry enough they WILL eat no matter what is in the bowl. Have patience and ye shall be rewarded. Don’t hover, plead, cajole, hand feed, or change the food. Just leave it in the bowl and —- WAIT!

The value of having your dog on a timetable and on a regular dog diet can’t be over emphasized. Dogs thrive on routine, and besides, if you don’t establish a routine and stick to it, your dog will implement one himself. Dogs without routines and a “pack leader” take over the roles themselves and you won’t like the consequences.

If you feed regularly at the same time (or close to it) daily then when the food hits the floor then your dog will be there to eat it – and will in fact learn to anticipate being fed. If you never thought dogs (or other animals) could tell time, try missing your regular feeding time one day.

Here is the most effective thing to do when you feed a finicky dog. Feed at the regular time and if they do not eat the food within 15 minutes, you take the bowl up and put the food back in the fridge. The next time that bowl comes out and goes down on the floor is the second feeding of the day. Period! Watch how fast your dog catches on to the fact if he doesn’t eat when the food is there, it’s GONE.

If your pal is getting adequate amounts of a palatable and nutritious food two times a day, you have fulfilled your responsibilities as far as feeding is concerned. Don’t let doggie involve you in a battle of wills like a spoiled child who won’t go to bed without first having ice cream. That food dish is YOUR domain!

Every dog owner who is concerned about what they are feeding their dog needs to read the book, Dog Food Dangers, by Shandra Baker at http://budurl.com/dogfooddangers.