VitaBlog The Vitacost Blog: Views and News on Vitamins, Supplements and Herbs

All-Natural, Safe Hair Products

Is it really necessary to buy organic hair products? You bet it is! Research (Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York) has found that as much as 60% of everything that you put on your skin gets absorbed into your body,  and the average person has 91 industrial chemicals in the body! Am I starting to convince you?

There are certain ingredients that you should avoid when shopping for hair products: sodium and ammonium lauryl sulfates, lauryl alcohol, mureth sulfate, propylene glycol (antifreeze) and olefin sulfonate (deodorized kerosene). Look for organic hair products that contain organic tea tree oil. This has been used for a long time to treat a variety of skin conditions, and has antiseptic elements that can aid in controlling naturally occurring microbial levels. Another beneficial ingredient is beta glucan. Beta glucan has immune-enhancing properties both internally and topically. It helps to soothe inflamed cells of the scalp, which is particularly beneficial for people who suffer from skin conditions.

Organic hair products gently infuse your hair follicles and skin cells with natural minerals, herbal extracts, and oils. If you are looking for shampoos that stimulate healthy hair growth, look for products that are made with aloe vera and coconut oil, which are natural moisturizers for the scalp. If you require enhanced shine and moisture for your hair, look for products that include organic shea butter. When you use organic shampoos and conditioners, you're also helping the environment by letting bio-degradable substances go down the instead of harsh chemicals

Going Green (Part 5)

We have all heard the old adage, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” but don’t we all want to feel and look beautiful? Most of us would all love to be able to buy all-natural, organic skin products that are good for our skin and the environment… but they are so darned expensive! Well, that is not the case anymore. I discovered a wonderful line of organic skin care products that are affordable and make my skin glow with health!

Avalon Organic products believe in “consciousness in cosmetics,” a commitment to creating inherently pure and safe products. Avalon believes that the skin, the largest organ of the body, should be protected from harmful chemicals that can be absorbed directly into the body. Avalon adamantly believes that the products we apply to our skin must be truly clean and pure, natural and organic, made from ingredients that are effective and safe. Avalon uses all-natural ingredients such as soy, wheat protein, plant extracts, teas and essential oils.

Avalon Organics offers a wide range of products, including shampoos, facial cleansers, moisturizers, wrinkle creams and hand soaps. My favorite product is Avalon Organics Lavender Facial Cleansing Gel. It is made with organic lavender, licorice root and white tea. It gently cleanses and protects my skin from irritations and blemishes. It also includes organic flax and borage oils that help to replenish moisture, leaving skin lightly hydrated. Avalon Organics Lavender Facial Cleansing Gel is pH balanced and made from 100% vegetarian ingredients.

So check out Avalon Organics…my skin loves their products and yours will too!

Anise Seed for Digestive Health

It is an old tradition in my family to make anise cookies every year at Christmastime. They have a very distinctive taste, similar to black licorice. Europeans use anise in cakes, cookies, and sweet breads. In the Middle East and India, it is used in soups and stews.

The anise plant is native only to Egypt and the Mediterranean region. Ancient Greeks believed it was a powerful aphrodisiac. The Romans used anise seed oil as early as the 7th century as a digestive aid, an expectorant and to eliminate bad breath. Presently, anise is cultivated in almost every region of the world and can be found in teas, aromatic oils, cooking extracts and in crushed/whole seed form.

Anise seeds contain B complex (B1, B2), C, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, iron and aromatic essences. Anise seed oil is commonly used in aromatherapy; it is believed to promote feelings of peacefulness and relaxation. Anise teas are believed to support healthy digestive and respiratory functioning, as well as relieve gas and bloating.

Skin-Sensitive Sunscreen

Why is it so important to wear sunscreen on a daily basis? Sunscreen helps to absorb certain ultraviolet rays from the sun, keeping them from penetrating your skin. This protection is important because these rays can hurt you, causing painful sunburns that damage the tissues beneath the surface of your skin. Damaging your skin's deep elastic layer can cause wrinkling and aging. Doctors have found that being in strong sunlight frequently at a young age, as well as having many sunburns, can cause real problems many years later.

Unfortunately, many sunscreens contain potentially harmful chemicals such as benzophenone, homosalate and octyl methoxycinnamate (also called octinoxate). So what is the solution? There are many sunscreens available that effectively protect your skin without harmful chemicals and that are made with all-natural or organic ingredients.

My favorite sunscreens are Alba Organics Hawaiian Green Tea SPF 30+ Sunscreen and Burt's Bees Chemical-Free Sunscreen SPF 30. Both provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and help keep skin hydrated without using harmful chemicals. Titanium dioxide, a naturally occurring mineral, creates a micro-fine barrier on your skin to reflect the sun's harmful rays. These products also include aloe, green tea extract, hemp seed oil and ginkgo biloba leaf. They are effective immediately upon application and safe for kids. Try an all-natural sunscreen to keep your skin safe!

Miraculous Jojoba Oil!

Every makeup removal product I’ve tried in the past either did not effectively remove mascara or left my skin feeling dry and cracked. Well, I have found nature’s remedy: jojoba oil. It is a rich skin moisturizer and makeup remover, and it is all-natural and gentle!

Jojoba oil liquid content extracted from the seed of the Jojoba plant, found in Arizona, California and Mexico. It is colorless and odorless, and not actually considered oil. It is what is called a wax ester. Out of all of the compounds in nature, this wax ester is the most similar to human skin oil (sebum). It is theorized that applying jojoba to the skin can “trick” the skin into thinking it is producing enough oil, thus balancing oil production. And best of all, it is non-comedogenic (does not cause or promote acne).

Jojoba oil can be used in a myriad of ways; for removing makeup and unclogging pores, and softening your hands and feet after bathing. It also can be used as a massage oil and scalp treatment to manage dandruff. You can apply it as hair treatment while in the sun or as an aftershave moisturizer. It is suitable for even the most sensitive skin.  So treat your skin well… try jojoba oil!

Banish Wrinkles with CoQ10

After my thirtieth birthday, I began to notice fine lines around my eyes and on my forehead. I began to search for an all-natural treatment to smooth away my wrinkles and firm my skin. I discovered an all-natural treatment that is free of paraben, preservatives, artificial colors and fragrances: CoQ10 Anti-Wrinkle Cream.

CoQ10 is a naturally occurring nutrient found in every cell of your body. A powerful antioxidant, CoQ10 helps protect collagen and elastin from free radicals that can cause premature aging. Its antioxidant properties also help build and fortify new cells and tissue, promoting fresh, younger looking skin.

CoQ10 Anti Wrinkle Cream is a silky, hydrating cream that combines the power of CoQ10 with essential oils, extracts and more to help repair and rejuvenate skin cells, revealing smoother, firmer and more youthful skin. It is recommended for normal to dry skin. CoQ10 helps to renew and restore collagen and elastin, repair skin cells and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Look years younger with CoQ10!

Aloe Vera: More than Sunburn Treatment

I remember my grandmother treating my sunburned skin with Aloe Vera gel after a long, hot day at the beach. She grew Aloe Vera plants in her yard specifically to treat sunburns and skin abrasions. I wonder if she knows that Aloe Vera has more beneficial properties…
Aloe Vera juice is rich in vitamins (A, B-complex, C and E), minerals (calcium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium and zinc), amino acids, enzymes and antiseptics (glycosides and lupeol). Aloe Vera juice:

• Provides powerful antioxidant protection from free radicals, unstable molecules that attack healthy cells

• Helps relieve inflammation, supporting cardio, digestive, joint and colon health
• Promotes healthy, younger-looking skin by encouraging the creation and repair of elastin and collagen
• Boosts energy levels and strengthens the immune system
• Supports healthy weight management, nutrient absorption, and favorable cholesterol and blood sugar levels
• Contributes to upper respiratory health and helps relieve allergy symptoms
• Helps cleanse and expel toxins from the body, supporting healthy bladder and kidney function
• Promotes a healthy mouth and gums

My favorite Aloe Vera juice to drink is an Organic Certified Aloe Vera Juice. It tastes delicious and does not contain any added sugar, artificial colors or flavors. I think I will send my grandma a case of Aloe Vera juice for her birthday…

Back to School- Part 3

“Did you brush your teeth?” If I had a dime for every time I uttered that phrase to my kids, I would be a rich woman! Dental health is vital to overall health, and it is important to teach children the importance of taking care of their teeth. Here are some helpful tips to enhance your child’s dental health:

• Regular care by a dental professional. During regular well-child visits, your child's pediatrician will check your child's teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy. By the time your child is a toddler (2-3 years old) he/she should be seeing a dentist twice per year.

• Include fluoride. Fluoride is a natural chemical that can be added to drinking water and toothpaste. It strengthens tooth enamel and helps repair early damage to teeth. Because children tend to swallow toothpaste, put only a small (pea-sized) amount of fluoride toothpaste on your child's toothbrush and press the toothpaste into the bristles. Taking in too much fluoride while brushing can result in fluorosis (spotting of the teeth).

• Regular brushing and flossing. Daily dental cleaning should start as soon as a first tooth appears. Any 2 teeth that are touching each other should be flossed to prevent a cavity from forming between the teeth.

• Proper Nutrition For healthy teeth, offer your child a well-balanced diet with a variety of foods. Drinking water with fluoride is an excellent way to keep teeth healthy. Refrain from giving your children soda or sugary juice.

There are organic toothpastes available with all-natural ingredients. Tom’s Natural Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste for Children is the first natural toothpaste for children to carry the ADA seal. It includes calcium and silica to gently clean teeth and fluoride to help prevent tooth decay. Your children will love the sweet taste of real fruit, and will enjoy cleaning their teeth! No more struggles over teeth brushing!

Healthier, Younger-Looking Skin

Do anti-wrinkle facial treatments really work? There are tons of expensive anti-wrinkle creams available on the market that claim to banish wrinkles and sagging skin.  The main ingredient of many anti-aging creams are peptides, short segments of 3-5 amino acids, also known as “mini-proteins.”

As we age, collagen, a natural skin protein, is destroyed but not replaced in our skin, causing wrinkles and sagging. Peptides alert your skin that collagen has been lost and to produce more. By applying moisturizing creams which contain peptides directly to your skin, you are “tricking” your skin into producing more collagen!

CSI Multipeptide Serum Anti-Wrinkle Treatment contains an amazing blend of peptides that helps to rejuvenate your skin deep down at the cellular level, revealing a fresher, younger-looking complexion. Using CSI Multipeptide Serum Anti-Wrinkle Treatment twice daily, morning and evening, can help keep the wrinkles away!

Emu Oil: Seeing is Believing

Oprah Winfrey recently gave rave reviews to a skin care product made with emu oil. It is professed to decrease eye puffiness, reduce fine lines and those rid us of those bothersome crow’s feet. I decided to investigate emu oil a little further…

Emu Oil is natural oil derived from the fat of the emu, a flightless bird indigenous to Australia. Sounds kind of strange, doesn’t it? It has been used by native Australians for hundreds of years to treat skin irritations and for its ability to ease muscle and joint pain.

Emu oil is rich in essential fatty acids. EFAs are necessary for the formation and maintenance of cell membranes—including those of skin cells, which are continuously formed and replaced by the body every 21 days. EFAs also promote a healthy inflammatory response, which may help with minor skin irritations. Emu oil contains vitamin E, which is full of moisturizing properties and powerful antioxidant protection against damage caused by UV sunlight, pollution, stress, poor diet and more.  So check out what Oprah is raving about… treat your skin wrinkles with emu oil!