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The role of sun and its ultra-violet rays is a little more complex than what we think, and it may also give us an insight how do we age. The sun acts sort of like one of the machines that shoots out tennis balls. But the sun’s tennis balls comes in form of ultra-violet rays that are torpedoed down to Earth. Now, one type of ultra-violet rays, UVC, is blocked by the atmosphere before it reaches us, so this type of UV has very little effect. The rays that constantly affect you are the UVB rays and the UVA rays. Blocking all kinds of rays is not possible. UVB rays are stopped at the topmost levels of the skin, but they still penetrate inside and cause burning and skin cancer. They cause tanning as well.

On the other hand, UVA rays penetrate deeply in the skin to cause burns, wrinkles and skin cancer. To top it off, sunlight also destroys the reserves of folic acid, also known as folate or vitamin B9. Folate is required by the body to replicate DNA properly. The rays can also damage the eyes. (continue reading…)

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Almost 75% women experience nausea during the first trimester of pregnancy, and about 50% of those will be sick enough to vomit. No pregnant woman welcomes the uncomfortable sensations of morning sickness, also called nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP), but it appears to actually positive impact. Women who experience sickness have a substantially lower risk of miscarriage than those who do not.

The nausea usually begins with fifth week of gestation. It peeks by eleven weeks and typically subsides by fifteenth or sixteenth week. But a small percentage of women can have it throughout the pregnancy.

Several scientists have suggested that morning sickness provides a protective mechanism for the early embryo. The mother’s sensitivity to many foods may keep her away from ingesting certain food that may be harmful for the baby, like meat, fish, poultry, caffeine-containing beverages and certain vegetables. A few simple solutions relieve morning sickness

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Studies have shown that vitamin D intake reduces the chances of colon, breast and prostate cancer. In addition vitamin D helps maintain strong bones. Older adults can reduce their risks of falls by more than 20% by ensuring that they get enough vitamin D. A study recently reported in Journal of the American Medical Association noted that vitamin D may also improve muscle strength, thereby reducing fracture risk from falls.

Scientist are finding that when we avoid sunlight all the time by slathering ourselves with sunscreen to avoid the increased skin cancer risk from sun overexposure, or avoiding the outdoors altogether through an indoor sedentary lifestyle, we lose our most effective source of vitamin D. Our bodies make vitamin D when skin is exposed to sunlight. This does not mean that you have to be out in sun all the time, or lying out in the beach tanning. All you have to do is to expose your skin to sun for 10 minutes in summer and 15 minutes in winter. (continue reading…)

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Summer travel season is upon us, and for many adults and children, traveling means dealing with motion sickness. As a regular traveler and veteran of motion sickness on land, sea and air, I’m always on the lookout for ways to prevent motion sickness. Vomiting is just not a fun way to start a vacation.

For many years, I wouldn’t consider a trip without either Dramamine or Bonine. However, even splitting the pills to take just a half dose, barely enough to keep the vomiting at bay and not nearly enough to stave off nausea, I would still have to factor in a full day to recoup from what the label charitably calls “drowsiness.” Road trips were exceedingly unpleasant, since I couldn’t take a motion sickness drug if I was going to take a turn at the wheel at all.

Traveling became much more fun when I discovered a natural remedy for my motion sickness that left me bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at my destination. My motion sickness is severe enough that I use a combination of several approaches, but those with more mild symptoms may be able to get by with one or two of these.

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Coconut oil is making a splashy comeback despite its infamous reputation over the years.  In fact, this “miracle” oil is being touted as a metabolism booster, diet aid, moisturizer, lubricant, acne fighter, healing balm, and the list goes on.

First, let’s clarify that we are talking about Virgin Coconut Oil.  Do not mistake this for the partially hydrogenated chemically altered oil that is commonly used in packaged foods; these contain unhealthy trans-fats.  Coconut oil, also called coconut butter (not to be mistaken with cocoa butter which comes from the cacao plant) comes from processing the meat of the mature brown coconut.  Even though coconut oil is 92% saturated, it has no trans-fats and contains no cholesterol.   In effect, it appears to have the ability of reducing serum cholesterol. (continue reading…)

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A new analysis by the Produce Safety Project at Georgetown University pegs the cost of foodborne illnesses at $152 billion (with a B) a year. To put that in perspective, the study calculates that the financial impact of bad food in a year is more than the combined proposed 2010 budgets for the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services ($78.7 billion), Agriculture ($26 billion) and Homeland Security ($42.7 billion). The estimate includes direct expenses of medical care and payments from health insurers as well as the indirect costs ranging from missed work to premature death.

While we may not have much control over what germs and viruses are on our food when we get it, some simple food safety tips can keep your family from being a foodborne illness statistic. (continue reading…)