Can Enzyme Supplements Prevent Gray Hair?

Posted on June 28, 2009 | Leave a comment

Q: Regarding your post on How to Prevent Gray Hair, can an individual augment the level of enzymes to generate pigmentation with pills or injections? ~ D.E., Santa Fe, NM

A: Thousands of enzymes are manufactured by the cells in all living matter with each having a specific purpose.  All chemical reactions in the body (i.e. breaking down or synthesizing compounds) are regulated by enzymes and you could not live without them.

From Body to Bottle

supplementsDue to the “more is better” mentality, there are many enzyme products and advertisements in the marketplace.  However, there is not enough clinical evidence that would support swallowing or injecting enzyme supplements to keep you healthy as well as prevent gray hair (in particular, the enzymes catalase to break down hydrogen peroxide and tyrosinase to produce melanin).

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How to Prevent Aging and Cancer (Synthetic Fragrances)

Posted on June 27, 2009 | 1 Comment

Q:  I am really sensitive to perfume and fragranced body products (especially soaps and lotions).  I get a rash and I cough when I spray on perfume or am near someone wearing heavy cologne.  What’s in them that is so irritating? ~ K.A., Huntington Beach, CA

Artificial fragrances are common allergens and irritants

Artificial fragrances are common allergens and irritants

A: Artificial fragrances are synthetically-derived substances used solely to impart an odor.  They are a common offender of adverse allergic reactions.

In a study by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group, fragrances were the number one cause of allergic and irritant reactions to cosmetics.  (Preservatives were the second most common cause of cosmetic allergies.)

Does This Smell Good To You?

Fragrance manufacturers are exempt from disclosing ingredients

Fragrance manufacturers may use any raw material in fragrance formulas

Pre-market approval of fragrance materials is NOT required.  With the exception of color additives and nine prohibited ingredients, fragrance manufacturers may use any raw material in a fragrance formula and are exempt from disclosing the chemicals on their label.

Fragrance ingredients need only be listed on the label as “fragrance” thereby limiting the FDA’s surveillance and actual authority over the fragrance industry.

Fragrance Free or Unscented…..Are They Really?

Fragrance freeThere are no official government definitions for “fragrance free”, “unscented”, or “natural fragrance”. In short, manufacturers can formulate their own interpretation of such label claims.

Commercial “fragrance free” or “unscented” products are rare and may only mean they have no discernible scent. Companies may add a masking fragrance to a product to conceal the odor of its raw ingredients without adding a discernible odor to it.   Continue reading →

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Posted in Aging, Cancer, Longevity

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Hawaiian Tofu-Salmon Salad

Posted on June 26, 2009 | Leave a comment

tofuHere’s the perfect summer salad that’s as colorful as nutritious.  This 7-layer Hawaiian-style salad is a meal in itself and easy to make.  The light tangy Asian dressing blends the silky texture of the tofu with the crunchy veggie layers.

Made with fresh chopped vegetables (local grown is best!) and salmon that’s packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.  Tofu is a high-quality source of vegetable protein, contains no cholesterol, and is rich in healthy isoflavones.

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Posted in "FIT FOOD" Recipes, - Salads, Antioxidants, Food, Heart Healthy

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How to Prevent Gray Hair

Posted on June 25, 2009 | 1 Comment

Q:  Why does hair turn gray?  Is there any way to slow down this part of the aging process? ~ K.P., Richfield, OH

A: Hair is initially white (no pigment) and gets its natural color from a type of pigment called melanin.  Melanin begins forming (melanogenesis) in utero and is produced by specialized pigment cells called melanocytes.

These cells are located at the opening of the skin’s surface where the hair grows.  When a hair is being formed, melanocytes inject pigment into epithelial cells within the hair follicle (a sac from which the hair grows).

Blonde, Brunette and Somewhere In-Between

Hair has only two types of pigments – dark (eumelanin) and light (phaeomelanin) – but they create a wide range of colors.  Your natural hair color is determined by the amount of and blending of melanin in the middle layer of the hair shaft (cortex).

Gray Hair

Pigment cells die and hair loses color

Pigment cells die and hair loses color

White hair has no pigment.  Gray hair has a reduced amount of pigment.  The mixture of pigmented hair and white hair produces the perception of “gray hair”.

Hair loses color and starts to gray when pigment cells die and levels of enzymes decrease.  The chances of your hair color turning gray increase 10-20% every decade after your 30th birthday.   Continue reading →

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Posted in Aging, Hair, Longevity

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Bruschetta with Garden Tomatoes & Basil

Posted on June 23, 2009 | Leave a comment

roma tomatoesBruschetta  (pronounced “brusketta”) is a healthy snack or appetizer and easy to make.  (Chopping tomatoes required, but can be therapeutic.)  If you’re so lucky to have vine-ripened tomatoes and homegrown basil on hand, this refreshing Italian dish promises to be extra flavorful.  The tomatoes add a rich source of lycopene making it a red-hot antioxidant that’s protective against aging and a growing list of cancers.

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Posted in "FIT FOOD" Recipes, - Appetizers & Snacks, Antioxidants, Food, Heart Healthy

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How to Prevent Cancer (Soap and Animal Fats)

Posted on June 17, 2009 | Leave a comment

Q: What’s the difference between the more expensive soap made with vegetable oils and the cheaper commercial brands of soap? ~ D.W., Los Angeles, CA

A: Soap is the resultant compound made by reacting fat (either from vegetables or animals) with sodium hydroxide.  The less expensive, commercially-manufactured soaps use tallow (animal fat).

Tallow – Is It Fit To Be Fat?

Tallow is a low-cost waste product of the meat industry.  It is basically fat stripped from slaughtered cattle, but it may also include fat rendered from slaughtered sheep and pigs.

Ivory is made from tallow

Ivory is made from tallow

Soap manufactured from animal fat is called sodium tallowate.  50% of a slaughtered steer is tallow and bones – the main ingredient of commercial mass-produced soap.  Ivory® states that their tallow comes from meat processing scraps and consists of beef and/or pork hide and bones.

The Skinny on Animal Fat

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, from the time cattle hides are removed from the animal, rapidly-growing bacteria populates the fresh hide.  In order to control bacterial growth, bactericides and detergent or large amounts of salt need to be used as a preservative.  Further, cattle hide is one of the primary sources of E.coli contamination on carcasses.   Continue reading →

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Posted in Cancer, Chemical Additives, Dioxins, Food, Meat, Soap & Cosmetics

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Silken Manhattan Clam Chowder

Posted on June 16, 2009 | Leave a comment

chopped clamsThis version of Manhattan clam chowder uses lycopene-rich tomatoes, but includes a touch of milk to soften the acidity.  It’s high in flavor, but low in fat.  Fresh clams can be added, but canned clams are used here to make it an easy, full-bodied soup that you can throw together fast.  

Clams also top the list as a source of B-12. One serving of clams (three ounces) has 14 times more vitamin B-12 than a fortified breakfast cereal with 100% of the DV! Add a green salad and whole grain bread and you have a healthy, heartwarming meal.

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Posted in "FIT FOOD" Recipes, - Soups, Antioxidants, Food, Heart Healthy

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How to Prevent Aging and Cancer (Sodium Benzoate)

Posted on June 15, 2009 | 2 Comments

Benzoates are widely used preservatives

Benzoates are widely used preservatives and linked to aging and cancer

Sodium benzoate (also known as E211) is a chemical preservative used to help inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungus in acidic products. It is linked to aging and cancer and is widely used in foods, beverages, cosmetic, dental care products, and pharmaceuticals that contain:

  • Vinegar (salad dressings, pickled foods)
  • Carbonic acid (carbonated drinks)
  • Citric acid (jams, fruit juices, cough syrups, baby wipes, liquid hand soaps)
  • Alcohol (alcohol-based mouthwash)
  • Other high acids (soy sauce, Chinese food sauces)

Sodium benzoate is used in some sodas

Sodium benzoate is used in some sodas

Manufactured from Crude Oil

This crystalline powder is the sodium salt of benzoic acid and is produced by reacting sodium hydroxide (lye) with benzoic acid.  Benzoic acid is commercially manufactured by reacting toluene with oxygen.  Toluene, also known as methylbenzene or phenylmethane, is related to benzene (a carcinogenic substance). Toluene is found in crude oil and used to make gasoline.

Due to the unpleasant aftertaste of sodium benzoate and not so much for toxicity, sodium benzoate concentration is limited by the FDA in the U.S. and should not exceed 0.1% by weight.  Potassium benzoate, the potassium salt of benzoic acid, is an alternative preservative to sodium benzoate.  When lower sodium content is required, potassium benzoate is used in place of sodium benzoate.   Continue reading →

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Posted in Aging, Cancer, Chemical Additives, Food, Longevity

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What’s In Artificial Food Coloring?

Posted on June 13, 2009 | Leave a comment
Gatorade_3 colorsQ: What’s in the artificial dyes that are used to color our food? ~ C.O., San Ramon, CA

A: Synthetic colors used to make products more attractive, appealing, and appetizing originally started out from coal tar crudes and are often still called “coal tar colors”.

The origin of colorants

The origin of colorants

Today, according to the Food and Drug Administration, many certified dyes are synthesized from petroleum (crude oil) – a naturally occurring flammable liquid found in the Earth’s rock formations.  Benzene, a known human carcinogen, is a natural constituent of crude oil and coal tar.

It’s hard to imagine that these usually black or dark brown (and sometimes yellowish or greenish) hydrocarbons are the primary raw materials used to manufacture the colorants widely used in:

  • Dawn_purpleFood
  • Drugs
  • Soaps
  • Cleaners/Detergents
  • Cosmetics

Moreover, synthetic coloring agents are recognized as a frequent cause of skin and eye irritation.

Sample of heavy crude oil

Sample of heavy crude oil (the base ingredient of artificial colorants)

Adverse or Carcinogenic Effects 

Even though coal-tar and petroleum are extremely volatile, toxic substances, the FDA determines that there is “reasonable certainty” that a dye poses no harm, or the risks are extremely small when used under its proposed conditions.  However, the absolute safety of any substance can never be proven.

In 1900, there were approximately eighty (80) food color additives being used and considered safe.  Due to adverse or carcinogenic effects since then, the list of acceptable FD&C (Food, Drug, & Cosmetic) colorants in the U.S. has been reduced to nine (9) certified colors.

Bay leaf1THR Tip: Steer away from artificially-colored products which you consume or slather on your skin.  By doing so, you’ll eliminate unnecessary petrochemical additives and possible carcinogens from entering your body.

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© 2009 Karen Owoc and The Health Reporter™.  All Rights Reserved.

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How to Stay Healthy If You’re a Man

Posted on June 12, 2009 | Leave a comment

Male signOne of the most important ways for men at any age to stay healthy and live longer is to get recommended screening tests.  These tests can detect diseases early (i.e. cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and more) when they are easier to treat.

NOTE: If you have risk factors, a diagnosed condition, or a family history of certain diseases, talk to your physician.  The types of tests, when you start testing, and how often you test may differ from the standard recommendations below.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for the following diseases:

Scale1.  Obesity: Have your Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated to screen for obesity.  BMI is a tool that is used to measure body fat by the weight (in kilograms) to height (in meters) ration of an individual.  A BMI of 25 – 29.9 kg/m indicates overweight and a BMI greater than 30 kg/m indicates obesity.

You can use the BMI calculator from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to find your own BMI.

2.  High Cholesterol (age 45+): Starting at age 35, have your blood checked regularly for cholesterol levels (fasting blood test).  Talk to your provider about testing earlier if you are younger than 35 and if:

  • You have diabetes.
  • You have high blood pressure.
  • You have a family history of heart disease.
  • You smoke.

Sphygmomanometer BloodPressure3.  High Blood Pressure (age 18+): Starting at age 18, have your blood pressure checked at least every two years.  A blood pressure reading of 140/90 and above is high.

4.  Colorectal Cancer (age 50+): Starting at age 50, your physician can decide which test is right for you.   Continue reading →

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Posted in Cancer, Longevity, Men's Health, Screening Tests

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How to Stay Healthy If You’re a Woman

Posted on June 12, 2009 | 1 Comment

Female signOne of the most important ways for women at any age to stay healthy and live longer is to get recommended screening tests.  These tests can detect diseases early (i.e. cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and more) when they are easier to treat.

NOTE: If you have risk factors, a diagnosed condition, or a family history of certain diseases, talk to your physician.  The types of tests, when you start testing, and how often you test may differ from the standard recommendations below.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for the following diseases:

Weight_Scale1.  Obesity: Have your Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated to screen for obesity.  BMI is a tool that is used to measure body fat by the weight (in kilograms) to height (in meters) ration of an individual.  A BMI of 25 – 29.9 kg/m indicates overweight and a BMI greater than 30 kg/m indicates obesity.

You can use the BMI calculator from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to find your own BMI.

2.  Breast Cancer (age 40+): Starting at age 20, the American Cancer Society recommends getting a Clinical Breast Exam (CBE) by your health care provider about every 3 years.  Breast self-exam (BSE) is also an option for women starting in their 20s.  At age 40, you should have a mammogram every year and a CBE prior to the mammogram.

3.  High Cholesterol (age 45+): Starting at age 45, have your blood checked regularly for cholesterol levels (fasting blood test).  Talk to your provider about testing earlier if you are younger than 45 and if:

  • You have diabetes.
  • You have high blood pressure.
  • You have a family history of heart disease.
  • You smoke.   Continue reading →

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Posted in Cancer, Longevity, Screening Tests, Women's Health

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How to Save Money When You Need Health Care

Posted on June 10, 2009 | Leave a comment

If you’re having difficulty paying your bills and face the decision to sacrifice your health care to make ends meet, you’re not alone.  In a recent study, one in three Americans report having problems paying their medical bills.  As a result,  patients are skipping doctor appointments, ceasing or reducing their medication, and postponing surgery or treatment to save money.  Making such changes without consulting your physician is risky and can jeopardize your condition.

Before you take shortcuts with your health, consider the following ways to reduce your medical expenses and increase the value of your health care dollars:

SoupSaladSandwich1.  Continue or start a healthy daily routine of physical activity and nutritious eating to reduce or maintain a healthy weight and ward off illness and disease.  Also, moderate alcohol and eliminate beverages that contain empty calories.

2.  Switch to generic brands for prescription medications under your physician’s advisement.  Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient(s) as the name-brand versions.  Generics are less expensive because the generic drug manufacturer does not invest money in drug research and development or in government approval of a new drug nor does it spend money on media marketing (i.e. print, television, internet, etc.).

Prescription drugsThe Food and Drug Administration requires that generic brands are the same as the brand-name drugs in the following ways:

  • dosage
  • the way it is administered
  • safety
  • strength
  • quality
  • purity

3. Check large warehouse membership club chains (e.g. Costco) that purchase high volumes for savings on prescription drugs. These stores have both onsite and online/mail order pharmacies, so pricing is available online.  Costco will ship your prescription FREE via USPS from Everett, WA (allow 6-11 days to receive your order).   Acceptable insurance plans are listed online.   Continue reading →

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