F.Y.I - For Your Information A

• Fish Oils
• The Sun & Vit D
• Honey - Skin, Body & Bones
• Bee Pollen
• CoQ10 - Coenzyme
• Stroke - How To Recognise
• The Sun Cycle & your Eyes
• Coffee Beans - Stress Buster
• Are You Getting Enough Sleep
• Vit E -  For Healthy RBC's, Muscles and Immune System!
• Sulphates
• Parabens
• 6 Things Your Mouth Could Be Saying!

Fish Oils -

EPA Fish Oils are great for preventing heart disease, high blood pressure, anxiety, stress and inflammation. They can be bought   from a health shop or found in salmon (if eaten at least twice per week). However, because the capsules are a supplement, one   should still eat salmon and/or plenty of green, leafy vegetables, avocado and nuts so that the supplements work with these foods.

EPA fish oil is high in polyunsaturated fat, i.e. Omega-3 fatty   acids - BRAIN FOOD! These acids are also found in linseed or flaxseed oil.

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Soaking Up Vitamin D?

Enough Sunlight or Too Much??

Too much sun is bad for your skin, but it's also an important     source of vitamin D.

Just how important is vitamin D anyway and how much sunlight    do you need?

Sun exposure affects the skin throughout a person’s lifetime.

The sun emits an invisible form of radiation called ultraviolet 

(UV) radiation, which can damage the skin. There are three 

types of UV rays: ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB) 

and ultraviolet C (UVC). UVA rays are the most abundant rays

at the earth’s surface, whereas UVB rays are the most harmful. 

UVC rays are especially damaging to the skin. However, they 

are completely absorbed by the ozone layer (the protective layer

in the earth’s atmosphere) and never reach the surface of the

earth.

UV radiation interacts with the skin and causes it to produce 

melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. When the 

darke rcolored melanin reaches the top layer of the skin, it

results in a “suntan.” Eventually, the UV rays will cause the

skin to burn. Sunburn is often accompanied by redness,

swelling and pain in the affected region(s).

Some people tan very easily and rarely burn, whereas others 

burn very easily and rarely develop a tan. A variety of 

factors determine whether an individual tans or burns after 

sun exposure, including skin type, amount of recent sun

exposure and time of year.

Vitamin D – Vitamin D is a nutrient required  to build and

maintain strong bones, the frame for the body. The presence 

of vitamin D signals the intestines to absorb more of the 

minerals calcium and phosphorus from food into the blood.

These two minerals and vitamin D are involved in bone

remodeling to help make bones denser and stronger.

Other roles of the vitamin are being investigated, and may 

include maintaining the immune and nervous systems.

The body can develop a deficiency of vitamin D. Children 

with insufficient vitamin D may develop rickets, a 

condition associated with skeletal abnormalities. Bone 

degradation such as osteomalacia may occur in adults,

resulting in a stooped posture and bowed legs. If the

deficiency progresses, osteoporosis develops and the bones

become thin, brittle and more easily fractured.

Unlike other vitamins, the body can usually produce all the

vitamin D it needs. It is created when exposure to sunlight

causes a chemical reaction in the skin that changes a product

of cholesterol into an inactive form of vitamin D. The inactive

form moves to the liver and the kidneys, where it undergoes

additional changes to become a form of vitamin D the body

can use.

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Inactive forms of vitamin D are also available in certain foods

and supplements. Significant dietary sources include cod liver,

fatty fish and fortified foods (e.g. milk, margarine, cereals,

fruit juices). Similar to vitamin D from sunlight, the inactive

forms of vitamin D from food must also be processed by the

liver and kidneys to become active.

People are advised to use vitamin D supplements only under

the guidance of physician. Overdoses are hazardous and have

the potential to cause kidney stones and the hardening of blood

vessels. Arterial damage in the lungs or heart can be potentially

fatal.

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HONEY For Skin, Body & Bones

Most of us realize the simple uses of honey - it is commonly used  for cooking and as a sweetening agent. But honey is not just great   in food or beverage, it has multiple uses. It can be used on the      skin - especially the face, as a cheap and highly effective  moisturiser.

If it is applied every night to the skin and left on for at least five minutes, your skin will be much more supple and smooth in only days. It is also a lot cheaper than most moisturizers available     today, without all of the chemical ingredients. it can also be added    a bath along with milk to give your skin the same smooth feeling over.

Honey can also be used as an antiseptic to treat wounds and small burns. If you are out camping and have nothing else available, a  little honey put on the wound will ensure that no dirt or bacteria enter it and cause an infection.

Honey is also great for your body. Ingesting it will cleanse your body, especially if put in tea. This sweetening agent helps your   body balance itself internally and can also aid in calcium absorp-tion. And because honey is such easily digestible food it helps your body get rid of toxins and can ease constipation.              If your have a cold or sore throat honey can be mixed with hot   water and a little lemon to ease the irritation.

Surprisingly, new studies have also found that honey may help     ease arthritis.Try mixing one part honey, two parts warm water,    and a tablespoon of cinnamon and massage it on the part of the  body with arthritis. For those suffering from chronic arthritis it should be drank with water and cinnamon every day.

Even though honey has such a wide array of uses, it still remains inexpensive. Depending on where you live, you may even have a honey farm nearby.

It is best to use honey that is pure, natural and unpasteurized.

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BEE POLLEN

Bee products are amazing and natural products which have many uses. Bee Pollen is great to take alone or with meals to enhance   your immune system and give you energy. Also many cosmetics   are now made from bee products, and many lipsticks and lip balms now contain beeswax. Although these bee products have multiple uses, honey may be the most substantial of all because it has so many uses,many of which remain unknown to most of the population. 

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Bee Pollen Found To Cure Allergies

May 23, 2008

Allergies occur when your body reacts to something that does       not cause a problem for most people. It is an adverse reaction to something in our environment such as pollen or grass. Most     people who have allergies are affected by them in the spring,     when the trees are producing pollen, grass is growing and being mowed. There is also more dust in the air. Symptoms of allergies include sneezing, a stuffed up nose, coughing,red eyes and itchy skin. Common allergic diseases include asthma, hayfever and eczema.

Some people have a genetic predisposition to develop allergies,     but a large number of people are now developing allergies for reasons not completely known. Some argue that increased   obsession with personal cleanliness may be tampering with our natural immune system making us more susceptible to allergic reactions. Global warming also has an impact because of the changing climate that our bodies are not used to. Another reason could be the high amounts of pesticides, herbicides, colouring,     and other additives in our food, which is largely refined and/or processed.

Most doctors will suggest those suffering from allergies take an antihistamine which is said to reduce the symptoms. Fortunately, there are more natural way that may help ease allergies without resorting to over the counter drugs. Taking a multivitamin along  with high doses of vitamin C will stimulate the immune system, letting your body build up a defense against the irritants.

Ironically bee pollen has also found to have a positive effect on allergies. The pollen is what many people are having their reaction to, ingesting it may help immunise the body. By taking a dose of what ails you your body has a chance to build up its defenses to  fight it off. Bee pollen also contains proteins, amino acids, vitamins and nutrients. In one study, individuals were given bee pollen for three years and 94% of them remained allergy free.

Though bee pollen may be worth a shot, if you suffer from   allergies, be extremely wary of any potential allergic reactions.

Those that have allergies to bees should not take any bee products.

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CoQ10

Is a vitamin like compound that is produced naturally in the body and is also found in most living organisms. It is also called ubiquinone, a name that signifies it subiquitous (widespread) distribution in the human body. As a coenzyme, this nutrient aids mitochondria, the powerhouse of cells, in the complex process of transforming food into ATP,
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RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps - STR

Read and Learn!

A neurologist says that id he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke . . . totally.

He said the trick was getting a stroke recognised, diagnosed  and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which    is tough. Sometimes symtoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.

Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaxter. the stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail      to recognise the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a by   stander can recognise a stoke by asking three simple questions:

S - Ask the individual to SMILE

T - Ask the person to

TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (coherently)           e.g. It is sunny out today

R - Ask him or to RAISE BOTH ARMS. If he or she has trouble with ANYONE of these tasks, call for emergency services immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke - - - - - Stick Out Your Tongue.

Note: Another 'sign' of a stroke i this: Ask the person to 'stick'       out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked'. If it goes to one side         or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.

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The Sun Cycle -

(excerpted from the Program for Better Vision)

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Coffee Beans

May Be Newest Stress-Buster

Just sniffing that first cup of coffee in the morning may help        ease some stresses you might be feeling, a South Korean trial indicates.

When rats inhaled the aroma of roasted coffee beans, a number       of genes were activated, including some that produce proteins     with healthful antioxidant activity, the researchers reported.

'The meaning of it is not totally clear yet.' said Dr. Pete R Martin, director of the Institute of Coffee Studies at Vanderbilt University. 'What it does show is that coffee smells do change the brain to    some degree and it behooves us to understand why that is happening'.

The findings from a team led by Han-Seok Seo at Seoul National University in South Korea, were expected to be published in June   25 issue of the journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The experiment was done with laboratory rats, some of whom    were stressed by being deprived of sleep. The researchers did detailed genetic studies that showed the activity of 11 genes was increased and the activity of two genes was decreased in the rates that smelled the coffee, compared to those who did not. In effect,  the aroma of the coffee beans helped ease the stress of the sleep deprived rodents.

The experiment provides 'for the first time, clue to the potential antioxidant or stress-relaxation activities of the coffee bean aroma', the researchers wrote.

And they added, 'These results indirectly explain why so many people use coffee for staying up all night, although the volatile compounds of coffee beans are not fully consistant with those of   the coffee extracts. In other words, the stress caused by sleep loss  via caffeine may be alleviated through smelling the coffee aroma. 'They used the latest in technology to see how brain expression of RNA changed', Martin said. RNA is the molecule that carries out   the instructions encoded in genes. 'This s just the beginning of the very interesting line of investigation', he added.

The aromatic compounds responsible for coffee's odour may be antioxidants, 'but they are not the same as the major antioxidants thaat are in the drink', said Joe A. Vinson, a chemistry professor      at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.

Chemically, the antioxidants in liquid coffee are polyphenols, Vinson said. Those in the aroma are heteocycle compounds containing sulfur or nitrogen atoms.

'There are two ways to get things into your system, and the    quickest way is to smell them', Vinson said. 'Caffeine gets into      the brain via the blood stream. Here, aromatic molecules get into   the brain the rough the olfactory system. the levels in the air are parts over million, so obviously they are minor components in       the air. But they are doing something'. Previously studies have shown that coffee consumption can reduce depression and suicide risk,      as well a relieve stress, effects generally attributed to the caffeine    in coffee, the researchers noted. While some 900 compounds that float away from the bean have been identified,     this is the first study to assay their possible effects, they added.

It's too early to recommend that people feeling stress sniff coffee    to ease their way. Even people who don't even drink coffee are fascinated by the odour of it.

'Ever since my little boy was two year old, he has loved the        odour of coffee. I have always thought that coffee has some     mystic quality and there is some deep historical basis for it'.       Peter R. Martin, M.D., Director, Vanderbilt University Institute        of Coffee Studies, Nashville, Tenn.;

Joe A. Vinson, Ph.D. professor of chemistry,                       University of Scranton, Pa.;

June 25, 2008

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

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Vitamin E

For Healthy RBCs, Muscles and Immune System!

• Powerful antioxidant

• Assists in the formation of red blood cells

• Supports healthy immune system function

• Promotes healing of burns, eczema and other skin problems

• Supports healthy skin and hair growth

• Support healthy eyes

• Important nutrient for healthy cardio function

• Helps the body make optimal use of vitamin A and iron

• Protects fatty acids in the body

• Prevents oxidation of LDL cholesterol

What is Vitamin E?

Vitamin E was discovered about 80 years ago, but in the last twenty years it has been discovered to be a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin E is fat soluble and poorly absorbed. It is stored in the fat tissues and the liver. Vitamin E offers numerous health benefits, particularly disease prevention because of its powerful antioxidant properties.

Vitamin E is a term for a group of related compounds called “tocopherols” and “tocotrienols”, which occur in four major forms: alpha, beta, delta, and gamma. Alpha tocopherol is the most common and most biologically active form of vitamin E. However, current research is indicating that different components in Vitamin E may be responsible for different actions. For example, scientists believe that alpha tocopherol inhibits production of free radicals and gammatocopherol neutralizes existing free radicals. Since Vitamin E is a family of nutrients, it makes sense to take it in a form, which includes all the members of the tocopherol family, which would further support the health benefits of Vitamin E. Our Vitamin E with Mixed Tocopherols is 100% natural and contains all four members of the tocopherol family of compounds, making it more nutritionally complete. A natural form of vitamin E is the most powerful and effective form of the antioxidant because it is the easiest form for your body to absorb. The Vitamin E used by our facility is derived from soybean oil and is significantly more potent than synthetic Vitamin E.

Why should you take Vitamin E?

Vitamin E scavenges the body for harmful free radicals and annihilates them. By destroying cellular membranes, free radicals are responsible for a variety of health problems including Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Vitamin E defends all cell membranes in the body from oxidative stress, promoting better health and immunity from illness, while increasing virility. In one controlled study 1200mg/day of Vitamin E was taken previous to a vigorous   workout for two weeks.

Intense muscular exercise typically causes damage to white blood cells, but by supplementing with Vitamin E, subjects showed that white blood cell DNA damage was virtually eliminated. Another study tested Vitamin E for insulin sensitivity. Insulin is an important substance in muscle building. Ten healthy subjects took 1350 IU per day of Vitamin E for 4 months straight. They showed a tremendous improvement in glucose clearance and insulin sensitivity.

Who needs Vitamin E?

Anyone who wants better immunity and added protection against free radicals should supplement with Vitamin E. Supplementing with Vitamin E can increase the strength of your immune system and the overall health of your body. Vitamin E can also ease aches, pains, and sore muscles. Vitamin E is an essential nutrient.

Cautions:

• Vitamin E is generally non-toxic when taken in doses less than 1200 IU per day.

• In doses more than 1200 IU/day it may cause nausea, gas, diarrhea and heart palpitations.

• High doses of vitamin E may interfere with vitamin K activity.

• If you have an overactive thyroid, diabetes, hypertension, rheumatic heart disease, are taking prescription blood thinners, aspirin or are pregnant or lactating consult a health care practitioner before taking Vitamin E.

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Sodium Laurel Sulphates

What exactly are Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Ammonium Lareth Sulphate and Myreth Sulphate?

Sulphates are generally used in all foaming detergents i.e   shampoos, bath foam, shower gels, toothpaste, etc and although they are deemed harmless, they do in fact tend to dry the hair or skin by   stripping it of its natural protective sebum and in the process   irritating the skin/scalp especially in sensitive or allergy prone skin.

There are alternatives in the market which will work just    effectively if not better as they are synergistic with the skin unlike the products containing sulphates.The GeeZone philosophy is, why use anything that may potential damage your largest protective  organ - the skin - when there are many product ranges you can use that work so much better with the natural working of the skin. Ren, U.N.T & Nude for example.

(Enquire at GeeZone).

The other side of the story!

WHAT ARE SULFATES?

Sulfates are mineral salts containing sulfur. Sulfate salts are found in some Wisconsins oils. The decay of plants, animals, and some industrial processes produce these salts. Mines, tanneries, steel mills, pulp mills, and textile plants also release sulfates into the environment.

Understanding the difference between sulphates and sulphates: Sulphites are different sulfur-containing chemicals used as food preservatives. Sulphites are not the same as sulfates. Some people, especially asthmatics, are sensitive to sulfphites and can experience severe allergic reactions. Since 1987, food containing more than 10 parts per million (ppm) sulphites and drugs containing sulfphites must be labeled.

Industrial waste water, household waste water, run off from a hazardous waste site or naturally decaying material can put sulfates into waterways rivers, lakes and streams. Wastes that contain sulfates seep through soil and contaminate groundwater.

HOW ARE PEOPLE EXPOSED TO SULFATES?

Drinking/Eating: Most drinking water supplies contain traces of sulfates. One American national survey found that sulfates in drinking water supplies range from less than 1 ppm to over 700 ppm. The average level in the survey was 46 ppm.

Sulfate levels in ground water generally range from 15 to 60 ppm. Sulfates are naturally present, at safe levels, in many foods.

Breathing: Air may contain sulfates in areas of heavy industry. Many sulfate salts can react in air to form dilute acid, which can irritate eyes. People who live near such industrial areas may notice irritating levels of sulfates in air.

Touching: Sulfates do not absorb through skin enough to cause health problems.

DO STANDARDS EXIST FOR REGULATING SULFATES?

Water: The 'secondary' standard for sulfates in drinking water is set at 250 ppm. This is called a secondary standard because it’s based on taste rather than health effects.  Most people can taste or smell sulfates in their water at 300 ppm or higher. Some sensitive people can taste the salts at levels as low as 200 ppm.

Air: There are limits on the amount of sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid that can be released by industries. There is no air quality standards for sulfates.

WILL EXPOSURE TO SULFATES RESULT IN HARMFUL HEALTH EFFECTS?

The following symptoms can appear a short time after someone drinks water that has over 500 ppm of sulfates:

*     diarrhea, intestinal pain (especially in babies)

*     dehydration as a result of diarrhea

*     slight decrease in normal stomach acidity

Breathing sulfates can cause lung irritation. No long-term human health effects are expected from exposure to sulfates. In animal studies, sulfates did not appear to cause cancer or birth defects.

In general, chemicals affect the same organ systems in all people who are exposed. However, the seriousness of the effects may vary from person to person.

A person's reaction depends on several things, including individual health, heredity, age, previous exposure to chemicals including medicines, and personal habits such as smoking or drinking.

It’s also important to consider the length of exposure to the chemical; the amount of chemical exposure; and whether the chemical was inhaled, touched, or eaten.

Seek medical advice if you have any symptoms that you think may be related to chemical exposure.

(PPH4608  Revised 3/2000)

This fact sheet summarizes information about this chemical and is not a complete listing of all possible effects. It does not refer to work exposure or emergency situations.

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*

6 Things, Your Mouth Could Be Saying!

You know your teeth are important. But did you know that the condition of your mouth is *linked to your overall health?        From vitamin deficiencies to **keeping your heart healthy,     taking care of your mouth is one of the first steps towards        taking care of yourself.

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