Peyton Manning Scores a Touchdown with Gatorade

A recent paper in the Journal of Medical Ethics is questioning whether it is ethical for sugary sports drink manufacturers to sponsor sporting events and have their products endorsed by professional athletes.  Guzzling a 32-ounce sports drink can have you consuming 200 calories from over 50 grams of sugar or the equivalent of about 13 teaspoons of sugar (see photo).

According to the article, “when companies sponsor celebrity athletes to endorse their products, they are essentially suggesting that the purchase of this product will increase the consumer’s chances of being like the star athlete.”    This association also projects the image that these beverages are needed to stay hydrated to “go the distance.”

While sports beverages may be of benefit for some to consume during endurance and high-intensity sports, they are being marketed to the public who typically are not sweating profusely, but rather, sitting on the couch watching Monday night football.    Ironically, just about this time last year, I posted a blog questioning why Peyton Manning was promoting sugary sports drinks to kids.

Well, that was then, and this is now.   It appears that Peyton and Gatorade have changed their marketing approach.

Watch this hilarious “Sweat It To Get It” Gatorade commercial:

For the record, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' position paper on Nutrition and Athletic Performance states that sports drinks containing calories and electrolytes can help sustain endurance exercise performance and are typically recommended for exercise events lasting longer than 1 hour.

For the rest of us, we can hydrate with calorie-free, sugar-free water.


Be well, Joan

Twitter  @JoanSalgeBlake

Wheat Germ Oil

If you are here right now, you probably know Vitamin E is really good for your skin. But did you know wheat germ oil contains really high levels of Vitamin E? Or that its Vitamin E content is one of the highest among carrier oils?

It really does. But what does that mean? Well, that means there are loads of wheat germ oil benefits for skin and hair... your skin and your hair!

So let's see some of these wheat germ oil benefits along with properties and uses of this amazing carrier oil.

Quick Glance at Wheat Germ Oil

Pros:
Wheat germ oil is perfect for dry skin and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. That definitely helps wheat germ oil repair skin, reduce wrinkles, and even improve circulation.

Cons:
As much as I love the oil, I have to admit it's pretty thick. Plus it has a strong scent and doesn't absorb quickly. But the saddest part is, wheat germ oil may cause you to break out if you have acne prone skin.

Precautions:
There are not a lot of warnings about wheat germ oil. I mean people eat the stuff! But if you have Celiac disease or you are sensitive to wheat or gluten, don't use wheat germ oil. Also, you should use with caution if you have acne prone skin.

Properties of Wheat Germ Oil

Here are a few properties you should know about wheat germ oil.

Name

Its botanical name is Triticum vulgare. Like all essential and carrier oils, double check this name when buying wheat germ oil just to make sure you're getting exactly what you're asking for.

Color & Smell

Wheat germ oil has a beautiful dark yellow to almost brown color. It also has a strong, wheat-like smell. The smell isn't to everyone's liking, so test it before buying.

Texture

Like I said before, wheat germ oil has a really thick consistency. That makes it perfect for dry and dehydrated skin! But it's not so great for normal to oily skin types. It sometimes feels heavy especially since your skin doesn't absorb it quickly.

Look: there's a quick solution for this. If you mix wheat germ with a much lighter carrier and maybe even some of your favorite essential oils (like ylang ylang or German chamomile), you can lighten up the texture (and smell) of this awesome oil. I've added a few blend ideas below to help!

[New: 30 Ways You Shouldn't Use Essential Oils]

Components

Wheat germ oil has a lot of fatty acids in it, along with proteins, lecithin, vitamins (A, D, and E), and minerals. The fatty acids here are: linoleic or omega-6 (which makes up about 50% of the oil); palmitic (15%); oleic (15%); linolenic or omega-3 (7%). These fatty acids each have amazing benefits for skin and hair as you'll see in a bit.

As I said before, wheat germ oil has one of the highest Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) levels among all the carrier oils (and all vegetable oils too). You'll find tocopherol in a lot of beauty products you own. It's the bomb when it comes to having great skin and hair!

Wheat Germ Oil Benefits

I can rant and rave about what wheat germ oil is good for, but you're not going to believe me without proof. No worries! There are a lot of studies that prove its benefits for your insides and out. Here are the wheat germ oil benefits for your skin and hair.

1. It's moisturizes

Remember the fatty acids in wheat germ? They make the oil thick and slow to absorb which means wheat germ oil is perfect for moisturizing dry, irritated, and dehydrated skin. Plus it works well for rough, cracking skin too. So you can use it for smooth elbows, knees, heels and anywhere else that needs a little extra moisturizing like dry, brittle hair. Yup! Wheat germ moisturizes hair too!

2. It neutralizes free radicals

Free radicals are little chemicals that form when you're exposed to sunlight and other harsh environments (new evidence: your skin makes free radicals too!). These chemicals can damage skin cells, collagen, and elastin. And besides damaging them, they slow down collagen and elastin re-generation.

Translation: wrinkles!

Free radicals actually cause wrinkles and can increase your chance of getting skin cancer.

Before you start freaking out, you should know wheat germ oil has got your back! Remember, the oil has the highest levels of Vitamin E? Well, the vitamin is a powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger which means it can neutralize free radicals. That also means you can use wheat germ oil to prevent wrinkles!

[Related: Basil oil also fights free radicals]

3. It repairs skin

Your body needs Vitamin E to repair and regenerate cells and tissue. That's a primary function of Vitamin E.

So when you use wheat germ oil, you are feeding your skin with the vitamin it needs to repair itself. That means you can heal cuts, wounds, burns, skin ulcers, sun burn, scars, stretch marks and dermatitis with wheat germ oil.

4. It reduces inflammation

Vitamin E also has anti-inflammatory properties. So you can use wheat germ oil to reduce redness, irritation and dermatitis. Skin conditions caused by inflammation like psoriasis and eczema can also be eased with wheat germ oil.

5. It boosts collagen and elastin production

Not only can Vitamin E stop free radicals from damaging collagen and elastin, but it can also repair and regenerate them. You may know collagen helps skin stay firm, strong and elastic while elastin helps maintain skin's shape even after contorting or stretching. These are really important for reducing stretch marks, wrinkles, and sagging.

But there's a problem.

Several studies show when Vitamin E is applied onto your skin, it penetrates pretty quickly but doesn't get very far into the skin. The highest concentrations of Vitamin E are within the first 0.005 millimeters of your skin. So lots of Vitamin E molecules can't get to the collagen and elastin layers deep inside your skin.

It's ok though!

You can feed the collagen and elastin layers by eating wheat germ oil. You only need one tablespoon to meet your daily Vitamin E requirements. If you can't stomach it, no worries. Just add almonds, spinach, pumpkin seeds, avocados, or fish to your diet. These foods are rich in Vitamin E so they'll definitely help keep your skin firm, strong and beautiful.

6. It improves circulation

Quite a few studies show wheat germ oil improves blood circulation to your skin. Improved blood flow ensures more nutrients and oxygen get to your skin and more toxins and waste are removed from the it. That means your skin will look healthy, nourished and radiant.

You will also experience improved blood flow if you apply the oil to your scalp. Here, more blood flow causes healthier and stronger hair follicles. And who doesn't want strong, healthy hair?

7. It works better with aloe vera

A small 2010 study tested the hydrating effects of herbal moisturizers on six volunteers and found wheat germ oil is very moisturizing on its own. But when it's added to aloe vera, it has a synergistic effect; meaning the two are more moisturizing and hydrating together than apart.

This is incredibly useful for badly damaged, dry skin, sun burn, stretch marks, and wrinkles.

8. It works with Vitamin C too

Remember Vitamin E in wheat germ oil is a powerful antioxidant? When it reacts with free radicals it can form its own radical and requires another antioxidant to reduce it.

Vitamin C has been shown to do this job very well. That's why so many skin care and beauty products contain both ingredients. They're better together!

Isn't this oil impressive? Here's a quick summary of a few wheat germ oil benefits:

Where to Buy Wheat Germ Oil

You've seen wheat germ oil's amazing properties and benefits. But now you're probably wondering where can I buy wheat germ oil? Well, you can find it in most health stores and there are tons of options on Amazon.

But why buy wheat germ oil when you can ... make it yourself! It's a great DIY project and you're sure to get pure, unadulterated oil. Here's how to do it:

How to make wheat germ oil

You'll need:

1. wheat germ, which you can get from any health store
2. an oil press (there are a few on Amazon)
3. bowl for waste
4. clean glass bottle and cover
5. funnel (optional)
6. cloth to strain any particles in the oil (optional)

With these

• Simply add the wheat germ to the oil press hopper and flip the switch (or move the handle, if it's a manual press).
• Position the bottle to collect oil exiting the press. You can use the funnel here to make sure there aren't any spills and, if you believe you'll get bits of wheat germ in the oil, cover the funnel with the cloth.
• Place the bowl to collect the waste material from the spent wheat germ.
• Once you're done, cover the bottle and store it in the fridge or in a dark area to make sure it lasts.

That's it! Oil recovery is about 30%. So if you use 3 parts of wheat germ (e.g. 3 cups), you should get close to 1 part of wheat germ oil (about 1 cup).

Wheat germ oil (either DIY or store bought) will last for about six to eight months provided it is not over exposed to light, heat and air.

Just a quick note: there is no such thing as wheat germ essential oil. Essential oils have light, volatile compounds. But this oil has large, heavy, non-volatile compounds like fatty acids and vitamins.

Uses of Wheat Germ Oil

Very early on in this post, I promised you massage blend and skin care recipes. But before you get started, do a skin patch test to make sure you're not allergic or sensitive to wheat germ oil. This is really important!

When that's done, here are a few blends to try.

1. For dry and mature skin: You can use the oil as is or mix it in a 1:1 ratio with another thick, moisturizing oil like avocado oil. While avocado is thick, it gets absorbed really quickly into the skin and so it won't leave you feeling overly greasy.


2. For combination and oily skin: Use a lighter oil like jojoba or sunflower oil in a 6:1 ratio with wheat germ oil i.e. 6 tablespoons of jojoba oil to 1 tablespoon of wheat germ oil. You can use this mix on your skin and hair


3. Can't stand the smell? Mask it with another strong scent that you actually like. Five drops of essential oils to any of the above blends would work. My favorites are lavender, sandalwood, ylang ylang and orange.


4. For a moisturizing face mask: A 1:1 ratio of honey and wheat germ oil makes a super moisturizing face and skin mask. This is perfect to add to your natural skin care regime. Simply apply the mix to your face and let it sit for 15 - 20 minutes before rinsing off.
   Remember, wheat germ has a high comedogenic rating, meaning it can cause acne. So you should use this mask with caution if you have acne prone skin.


5. For strengthening hair: Using a 1:1:1 ratio, mix one part coconut oil with one part pure aloe vera and one part wheat germ oil. Massage this mix on your scalp for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off.


6. For stretch marks: Use wheat germ oil directly on your marks. You can also use a 1:1 ratio of wheat germ oil and calendula oil or an 8:1 ratio of cocoa butter to wheat germ oil (i.e. 1/2 cup of cocoa butter to 1/16 cup or 1 tbsp of wheat germ oil).

What's next?

Return to:
- Carrier Oils Listing
- Essential Oils Listing

Slim By Design

Have you ever looked in the mirror, frustrated by your expanding waistline, and asked yourself, “how did this happen?”   Cornell University professor, Brian Wansink, Ph.D. may have not only uncovered the reason for your mysterious weight gain, but more importantly, the way to manipulate your environment to slim down.  As a behavioral economist researcher, he has authored over 200 academic articles and books on the fascinating science of eating behaviors.

In his new book, Slim By Design, Wansink shares how to make small and effective, research-based changes in the five “zones” in your life where you do the majority of your eating: your home, workplace, grocery store, favorite restaurant, and school.  These five zones are likely engineered to make you “fat by design” by encouraging you to mindlessly nosh throughout your day.  Daily, mindless eating causes many of us to unknowingly and chronically take in extra calories, so that over time, we frustratingly don’t like what we see in the mirror.

Take this quiz to learn more just a few of the many environmental changes that you can make that could make a difference in your weight:

 

Here are Wansink’s answers based on research:

1. Home: (A)  People with fruit bowls weight eight pounds less than their neighbors without.  Bonus tip:  Reducing kitchen clutter does cut snacking by one-third as well.

2. Restaurants:  (B) People who take to-go boxes eat one-third fewer calories than those who don’t.  Bonus tip:  Sit by the window and you’re twice as likely to order salad

3. Grocery Stores:  (B). People who divide their shopping carts in half – fruit and vegetables in the front and all the other food in the back -- buy twice as many fruits and vegetables as people who don’t.  Bonus tip: Chewing gum while you shop also cuts cravings and snack-food purchases by over 20 percent.

4. Workplaces: (A) Leaving your desk causes you to eat better, snack less, and rate work as more balanced than if you were to eat at your desk.  Bonus tip:   Choosing fruit first also triggers healthier entrée selections.

5. Schools:  (A) Vegetables with creative names (such as Power Peas) sell 28 percent more.  Bonus tip:  Cookie sales are cut by half if kids are forced to use cash.

“Becoming Slim By Design works better than trying to become slim by willpower,” claims Wansink.   “That is, it’s easier to change your eating environment than to change your mind.”  The book advises you how to change the environment in these five zones to make it easier for you to mindlessly eat less.  Click here for more on the Slim By Design movement. 

I don’t know about you, but a big bowl of apples is my new kitchen table centerpiece, and I am getting a window table at the restaurant the next time I dine out.  I feel slimmer just thinking about it.

Be well, Joan

Twitter:  @JoanSalgeBlake

Move Over Sugar, Salt is a Bigger Health Threat for All

Source: CDC

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 90 percent of children ages 6 to 18 in the United States eat too much sodium daily.  All of us, young and old, should keep our sodium intake to under 2,300 milligrams (mg) daily with some of us benefiting with only a mere 1,500 mg a day.  Currently, both children and adults are consuming over 3,200 mg of sodium daily, on average.

In general, as the sodium increases in your diet so does your blood pressure.   Currently, one in six children has an elevated blood pressure, which could pave the way to full-fledged high blood pressure as they age.  Since chronic high blood pressure increases your risk for heart disease and stroke, our kiddies are salting their way to poor health. 

While we are born with an innate desire for sugar, our taste for salt is learned through diet exposure, especially starting at a young age.  In other words, if you grew up with a heavy salt diet, your taste buds will be trained to hunt for this salty flavor in your meals and snacks.

You may have been born with a sweet tooth but you developed a salt tooth over time.

The top ten sources of sodium in the diets of children are from fast foods and commercially prepared foods:

Note:  Many of these above food sources are the same sodium high rollers in adults’ diets.

To lower the sodium in your diet, do some comparison shopping by using the Nutrition Fact Panel on the food label when at the grocery store.  For example, when you are buying crackers, seek out the brand that has the least amount of sodium per serving.  When at fast food restaurants, don’t supersize seasoned processed meats, poultry, and fried foods and order more naturally low sodium fresh fruits and veggies instead.  

The chart below shows you how to swap out high sodium foods with lower sodium alternatives when dining out and food shopping:

Be well, Joan

Twitter:  @JoanSalgeBlake

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Ylang ylang essential oil has incredible benefits. It is very relaxing and can calm your nerves and anxiety. Here is more about ylang ylang essential oil. (Note, it's pronounced ee-lang ee-lang).

Quick Glance at Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Pros: Ylang ylang oil calms nerves, lowers blood pressure and neutralizes free radicals.

Cons: The oil may cause skin sensitivity and dark spots.

Precautions: Pregnant women should seek medical advice before using this essential oil.

Ylang Ylang Oil Properties

Consider these properties of ylang ylang essential oil.

Name

Ylang ylang's botanical name is Cananga odorata so be sure to check this name before buying the essential oil.

Color & Smell

Ylang ylang oil has a light yellow color. And the ylang ylang flowers are used to make the oil and they give it a sweet, floral and somewhat spicy smell.

Components

Ylang ylang flowers are very delicate so extraction of the essential oil is staged. Stage I is short and extracts the very volatile compounds in the flowers. Stages II and III remove the lesser volatile compounds.

When buying ylang ylang essential oil, you will see the stage at which the oil was extracted from. The most popular is ylang ylang III.

The oil usually contains the following compounds but at varying amounts, depending on the extraction stage: p-cresyl methyl ether, methyl benzoate, linalool, benzyl acetate and geranyl acetate, beta-caryophyllene, d-germacrene, and alpha-farnesene.

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil Benefits

The compounds add to the incredible benefits of ylang ylang oil. Here are just a few.

1. Ylang ylang essential oil improves self-esteem

You read that right. Ylang ylang can improve your self-esteem. That is according to a study done on 34 nursing professionals.

The nurses were split into groups and given ylang ylang oil to inhale, apply on the skin or inhale AND apply onto the skin.

All three groups showed increases in self-esteem. And the group that did both (inhaled and applied onto the skin) showed the highest increase in self-esteem. That means when you need a confidence boost reach for ylang ylang oil!

2. It relieves depression

Ylang ylang oil is a well-known antidepressant. It has been shown to relieve fear, frustrations, and depression. So don't be depressed again with ylang ylang.

3. Ylang ylang oil is calming

There are many studies including this one that prove ylang ylang has sedative and relaxing effects on the body. That means it can reduce anxiety, nervousness and tension.

4. It reduces blood pressure

Studies also show if you inhale ylang ylang oil, you may experience significant decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and a reduced heart rate. This really is in keeping with ylang ylang's relaxing effects.

So the next time you are stressed out or in a high pressure situation, take a whiff of ylang ylang. It is scientifically proven to reduce your pressure!

5. Ylang ylang fights free radicals

Ylang ylang has shown free-radical scavenging and anti-cancer properties. In fact, a 2005 study compared the free radical scavenging properties of eleven essential oils. And ylang ylang was the most effective of the oils tested. That means ylang ylang oil can fight free radicals (which damage the skin) and cancer cells.

6. It is antibacterial

Ylang ylang oil is very effective against bacteria including mutated, drug-resistant bacteria like Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

7. It kills fungi too

Studies have also shown that ylang ylang essential oil can inhibit the fungi, Candida albicans, at concentrations of just 1%. That makes it a potent antifungal oil.

8. It is insecticidal

A 2014 study looked at the repellent properties of ylang ylang oil on mosquitoes. The study also compared the oil with a chemical repellent: Johnson's Baby Clear Lotion Anti-Mosquito.

The results showed low concentrations of ylang ylang essential oil provided 98% mosquito-repellent protection for an hour. And the chemical repellent only provided 75% protection for 3 minutes. Just THREE!

This just proves the incredible benefits of ylang ylang oil.

So here's a quick summary laying out all the proven ylang ylang essential oil benefits we discussed in this post:

Ylang Ylang Oil Uses

Ok so you've seen ylang ylang essential oil benefits and properties. Now let's look at how to use ylang ylang oil.

Inhalation

You can add a few drops of ylang ylang oil to your vaporizer to calm your body and boost your confidence. Similarly, you can add a few drops to your hankie. The ylang ylang fragrance is blissful and can be found in many perfumes, fragrances, and other popular cosmetics.

Massage

Before using the oil on your skin, do a skin patch test first. This is especially important for ylang ylang essential oil.

This oil may cause skin sensitivity to persons allergic to the compounds in ylang ylang. In addition, such persons have also experienced dark spots and pigmented contact dermatitis. So I can't stress it enough to do a skin patch test to ensure you are not sensitive to this oil.

If you are not sensitive to ylang ylang, you can use it with a carrier oil for massage onto your skin.

More Precautions

And, as with all essential oils, consult your doctor before using ylang ylang oil especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, using medications, or planning to use it on a young child.

Get Ylang Ylang Essential Oil:

What's next?

Return to:
- Essential Oils Listing
- Carrier Oils Listing

Photo Credit: Copyright: thawats | 123RF Stock Photo

Best Antiviral and Antibacterial Essential Oils

You know essential oils can kill bacteria, fungi and more. But which are the best antibacterial essential oils? Or the best antifungal oils?

Well, a 1999 study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology attempted to answer these questions. The study tested 52 essential oils on 10 drug-resistant bacteria and fungi species.

The results were surprising. Only three essential oils - at concentrations less than or equal to 2% - inhibited ALL ten microbes. Three out of fifty-two!

There were other antiviral and antibacterial essential oils, of course, but these three were the best. That means you can use these oils to disinfect your surfaces, your surroundings, and your home.

So which are the best oils?

Antiviral and Antibacterial Essential Oils

The following graphic shows the best antiviral and antibacterial essential oils for disinfecting your home. They are lemongrass, oregano and bay essential oils.

Is Your Lunch Bag Making You Sick?

This is the second part of a three part, Back-To-School series, focusing on the benefits and strategies for eating a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner for busy folks and families.  This week focuses on how and what to pack for a safe and healthy lunch.

Photo Source:  AND

If you ever had a foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning, you painfully know that it not exactly a “day at the beach.”

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), nearly half of Americans admit to leaving lunches that require refrigeration out of the refrigerator/cooler/freezer for three hours or more.  Food left at room temperature for over two hours are a breeding ground for pathogens that can cause foodborne illness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in six Americans each year suffers from foodborne illness resulting in about 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. 

Take this quiz to see if the way you are packing your lunch is putting you at risk for foodborne illness:

If you answered, “no” to any of the above, you’re not alone but please read on.

Using a clean, insulated lunch bag along with TWO frozen ice packs is your best bet to help keep edibles at a safe temperature until lunchtime.   Unfortunately, in a study published in Pediatrics, researchers at the University of Texas examined the lunchboxes of over 700 preschoolers and found that over 90 percent of the perishable items in the lunch bag were at an unsafe temperature by the time the children were chowing down on their lunch.  Even more shocking, the researchers uncovered that almost 40 percent of the lunch boxes didn’t have an ice pack. 

Since the immune systems of young children are not full developed, they are not only at a higher risk for foodborne illness but typically also have more serious reactions than adults.  Pregnant women, older adults, and those with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, all have weakened immune systems, which can cause these individuals to be more susceptible to pathogens that can cause foodborne illness.

To lower the risk for food poisoning, these tips will help you pack a safe lunch:

• Use an insulated, soft-side lunch bag or box, which are best for keeping food safe.
• Always use two ice packs.  Perishable foods such as yogurt, meats, and cut up fruits and vegetables, should remain chilled at 40 degrees F or below to slow down the rate that pathogens will multiply to dangerous levels.  Two ice sources should be used with perishable foods, with one ice pack on the bottom of the items and another one on the tops.   Frozen individual juice boxes can serve as a cold pack. 
• Store your lunch in a refrigerator.  If available, you should store your packed lunch in the refrigerator with the bag open.  This will allow the chilly air to come in contact with the food to keep it cold until you are ready to eat it.
• Forget about bringing home leftovers.  Perishables that are left out at room temperature for more than two hours (likely the time it takes to not only eat the lunch but transport it home), should be tossed as they are unsafe to consume.
• Ditch the sandwich bags.   If you use plastic sandwich baggies, they should get tossed after each use to prevent cross contamination with another future food item. Don’t attempt to clean and reuse them. 
• Plastic containers,plastic containers, as well as the inside and outside of the lunch bag, should also be thoroughly cleaned with hot soapy water and rinsed clean in between uses.  You can now buy nifty plastic containers that have built in freezer packs.  (See photo.)

  

  Photo Source:  Fit-Fresh.com

Click here for ideas for quick and easy healthy lunches to pack.

Be well, Joan

Twitter at:  @JoanSalgeBlake