New FDA analysis finds lead in all 400 lipstick products tested

An analysis commissioned by the FDA of 400 popular lipstick products has alarmingly found at least some lead in every single product. The amount of lead found in 380 of the lipstick products tested was greater than the maximum 0.1 parts per million (ppm) allowed in candy bars – in some instances as much as 70 times greater. However, the FDA stated that it did not consider the lead content to represent any danger because lipstick is not intended to be ingested.

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Study: Nearly all women with breast cancer have parabens in their breast tissue

They are added to everything from shampoos and deodorants to processed foods and pharmaceutical drugs in order to inexpensively extend shelf life and improve product stability. But a new study out of the University of Reading (UR) in the UK has found that, based on tests conducted, nearly every single woman with breast cancer has one or more paraben chemicals in her breast tissue, suggesting a possible link between the chemical and the disease.

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Intermittent fasting is a key strategy for anti-aging and longevity

Our ancient ancestors grew up in a world of stress and scarcity. Food was often not available and intermittent fasting was common. This form of life left a genetic blueprint with key information pertaining to our health and wellbeing. Intermittent fasting reduces oxidative stress, enhances cellular repair processes and appears to be a key strategy for anti-aging and longevity.
Thousands of years of food scarcity led our bodies to develop a protective mechanism to adapt to alternating phases of food abundance and scarcity. During times of food scarcity, our cell membranes become more sensitive to insulin. This is especially important when food is scarce because it ensures that every bit of food be efficiently used or stored.

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Three ways apple cider vinegar benefits weight loss

Vinegar is a traditional folk remedy long valued for its many health benefits. Recent research shows at least three ways in which the traditional healers were on the right track at least when it comes to weight loss. A 2006 review article in the “Medscape Journal of Medicine” concludes vinegar may have a role in blood sugar control and appetite suppression. Other studies show vinegar may also promote weight loss by preventing fat accumulation through its impact on insulin secretion.

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The 10 worst chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products

The entire cosmetic industry is in a buyer beware state of alert, thanks to the latest additions to the melting pot of chemicals and pollutants in skin care, above and beyond the usual parabens. Consumers are warned by experts to put on the watch list any makeup which contains synthetic coloring ingredients, emulsifiers, leads, copolymer, triclosan, and “urea as a preservative.” Also contributing to the chemical compounds are phthalates, formaldehyde, and petroleum.

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Five Foods for Healthy Skin

Although the cosmetic industry would have us believe otherwise, beautiful skin doesn’t come from a jar full of perfumed chemicals. Beyond being born with great genes, the best thing you can do for your skin is to eat a healthy diet. Learn how to enhance your skin from the inside out by eating foods that will make your epidermis glow with health. Try adding these foods to your diet to both feel and look better.

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Toxic Perfume

As lovely as your favorite fragrance may smell, there’s a good chance that it’s a toxic chemical concoction of poisons. The ingredients used to make perfume and cologne don’t stop at natural spices and pure essential oils (no matter what those romantic commercials on your TV may imply).

The list often includes formaldehyde, toluene, methylene chloride, benzaldehyde, petroleum, and phthalates. These chemicals have been linked to a wide range of damaging symptoms, including respiratory problems, nervous system issues, reproductive issues like infertility, and various forms of cancer. Phthalates are also known to be endocrine disruptors. These harmful effects have the most impact on young children and developing fetuses. In fact, pregnant women have been advised to avoid the use of perfume altogether due to these ill effects on unborn children.

But the range of products that these synthetic poisons contaminate goes far beyond your most cherished night-out-on-the-town scent. “Fragrance” is a common ingredient in air fresheners, cleaning products, lotions, cosmetics, shampoos, and sadly enough, baby products.

Under the guise of trade secrecy laws, companies are not required to inform their health-conscious consumers what ingredients are actually in this empty word- fragrance.

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Sleep, Weight Loss, and Hormones

Want to know my number one diet tip? It has nothing — and everything — to do with the foods you eat and exercise you do.

The best thing you can do to have a lean, fit body is to get a good night’s sleep. I’m talking quantity and quality here. If you sleep eight hours, but wake up three times during the night to go to the bathroom, you’re not getting high-quality sleep — and the repercussions can show up around your waistline.

If you think the worst aftermath of a crappy night’s sleep is that you snap at your partner the following morning and make a few lapses in judgment during the day, think again. Here’s the truth: lack of sleep can make you fat because how you sleep directly impacts how much you eat and what kind of foods you eat.

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How to get skin that glows – Natural beauty secrets for a Hollywood face

Are your skin cells crying for help? With summer just around the corner, many people are starting to realize that their skin doesn’t look as good as they wish. In this article you’ll find practical tips and suggestions that will help you achieve radiant skin by creating health from the inside out.Your skin is your largest organ and a fingerprint of what’s going on inside your body. Whether it’s acne, rashes or lack of tone, it’s important to go beyond covering up our flaws and get to their root causes. Contrary to popular belief, the secrets to perfect skin care are in what you put in your body, rather than what you put on your skin.

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Periodic fasting increases fat burning and reduces the risk of disease

Fasting has been a popular practice among health conscious individuals for centuries. In general, doctors have discouraged the practice of fasting deeming it a dangerous fad among ignorant health seekers. Recent research has proven that regular fasting is not merely a fad, but a health promoting practice. Research conducted at Intermountain Medical Center’s Heart Institute identified several health benefits offered through periodic fasting. Continue reading

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