Salubrious Life

Learn to create a Healthy Home

This is a question millions of Americans are starting to ask themselves in today's toxic world.  With so many diseases on the rise, it is not just our diets that we must be concerned with anymore.  Our home, should be a safe haven where our bodies rest and recuperate, but unfortunately, a myriad of toxins are abundant and most people are unaware of their existence.  There IS something you can do about it.  Join Ron and Lisa Beres as they take you through a journey of identifying and eliminating these dangerous toxins and learn to create a healthy home for you and your loved ones TODAY!

For more information on GreenNest.com click here.

Coke That Tastes Like Coffee - Now You Can Have Your Cake & Eat It Too

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co.  the world's No. 1 soft drink company, on Wednesday said it will launch a coffee-infused soft drink called Coca-Cola Blak in various markets around the world in 2006.

The new drink, a combination of Coca-Cola Classic and coffee extracts, will be first launched in France in January before being rolled out in the United States and other markets during 2006.

Coca-Cola Blak is not just a flavor extension," said Marc Mathieu, vice president of Global Core Brands for Coca-Cola. "It is a blend of unique Coke refreshment with the true essence of coffee and has a rich smooth texture and has a coffee-like froth when poured. We believe we have created a new category of soft drink -- an adult product in a carbonated beverage -- and a whole new drinking experience."

Coke's future lies in capturing more consumers who have moved away from sugary soft drinks to diet versions, or to healthier low- or no-calorie beverages.

I for one await anxiously 2006 for many reasons.....Blak now being added to that list. I often find myself choosing between a diet coke or coffee........now I don't have to. 

note to execs at coke:  Could you make it diet?

Oats – a natural next step in anti-ageing?

Beta glucan, an oat-derived fibre, can penetrate the skin and smooth out wrinkles. So says a new study that changes previous scientific thought and sets up the ingredient as a new natural tool to suppress the outward signs of ageing.

The break-through could have a big impact on skin care, since it sits comfortably at the point of convergence between two important trends: anti-ageing and natural products.

Beta-glucan, a soluble fibre derived from the cell walls of oat kernels, is most commonly used in food applications. Studies have indicated that, when ingested, it can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels and glycemic response.

It does also have a history of use in topical applications, to provide relief from minor skin irritations, improve the appearance of skin and help wound healing.

Researchers from Symrise and Ceapro, a University of Alberta spin-off company set out to discover whether it really is the case that beta glucan cannot penetrate the skin, and to evaluate its ability to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

The first part of the study, published in the latest issue of the International Journal of Cosmetic Science (vol. 27; issue 5; p 292), involved a single application of 5mg of 0.5 percent beta glucan per cm2 of abdominal skin. The beta-glucan contained a dye, so that its progress through the skin could be measured. The researchers found that it did, indeed penetrate the skin – a process described by author Dr Mark Redmond, president and CEO of Ceapro, as being similar to the way water penetrates a brick wall.

“It does not go through the brick, it goes through the concrete binding the bricks together," he said. "As a result of our study, we now know that glucan works through the inter-cellular lipid matrix, or the cells'

Next, a clinical study group of 27 subjects applied beta-glucan to fine lines and wrinkles on their faces over an eight-week period. Using digital image analysis of silicone replicas, they determined that there was a significant reduction of wrinkle depth and height, and that the skin was less rough.

There is evidence to support the use of oat beta-glucan in the “care and maintenance of healthy skin and the cosmetic treatment of the signs of aging”.

The findings mean that beta glucan could have a role as a non-invasive alternative to Botox, the popular treatment to smooth out wrinkles by injecting botchulism into the muscle. It is believed that some parties already have R&D underway in this area.

More than being useful solely in cosmetics settings, however, beta glucan gains practical, medical credence from the study, which supports its use to promote wound healing and reduce scaring after surgical procedures.

Walmart Goes Soft on Shrimp

That Wal-Mart.  What a caring and giving organization. It isn't enough to ensure that men, women and children in China are employed, that our forests and green-space are thoughtfully replaced by gigantic faceless stores, that our men and women returning from Iraq get to keep their minimum wage jobs - now they want to support the shrimp industry of eight Gulf and South Atlantic States.  Where does the giving stop?

Wal-Mart announced it has begun to carry certified wild American shrimp in nearly 900 locations, in partnership with one of the largest suppliers, Penguin Frozen Foods. Wal-Mart also said it would be “devoting resources to raising public awareness about the nutritional and economic benefits of domestic, wild-caught shrimp…  that grows naturally, is caught fresh and that supports the shrimp industry of eight Gulf and South Atlantic states.”

I sure do hope that Shrimp don't feel..................................

Consumers Want to Combine Health and Wellness with Cosmetics

Beauty Starts From Within and consumers are increasingly opting for cosmetics products that combine beauty with health and wellness - according to a recent report by market researcher Euromonitor International.

As aging baby boomers seek to live long, healthy lives, they are looking for ‘balance and more holistic solutions, said the report.

Manufacturers have picked up on the trend, introducing new products that offer benefits beyond beauty, and even complete ‘wellness systems' that enhance health from the inside, such as vitamin supplements.

According to the report, dermatologists Dr NV Perricone and Dr Howard Murad started the trend by launching skin care and dietary supplement lines. The idea was then picked up by Avon and Procter & Gamble's Olay brand, which now offers vitamin supplements to “help consumers become beautiful from the inside out.”

Estée Lauder has merged skin care, aromatherapy and food, last year launching its Cocoa Therapy Collection. The line includes body care products with skin-beneficial components of cocoa, as well as edible chocolate bars with aromatherapeutic mood-enhancing properties. The company also signed an agreement with Dr Andrew Weil, a pioneer in integrative medicine, to co-develop a line of wellness products.

Another company offering ‘beauty chocolates' is cosmetics company Ecco Bella, which developed a Health by Chocolate organic bar infused with cranberry seed oil, blueberry extract, lutein, lycopene and fiber, all of which are supposed to be good for the skin.

Along with the increasing health trend, consumers are also opting for ‘natural' ingredients in cosmetics products, according to the report.

Demand for natural products has risen since 1999 as consumers seek “comfort and escape from a fast-paced, 24/7 high-tech world. Natural products hold an appeal of simplicity and a back-to-basics approach,” said Euromonitor.

“Natural product ingredients such as plant extracts, herbs, vitamins and food ingredients are more easily recognized by consumers than the abstract names of extracted essential elements, and are regarded as ‘safe,'” it added.

According to the report, Estée Lauder has been successful with the natural positioning of its Origins and Aveda brands.

Origins, which contains ‘natural' ingredients such as ginger, vitamins and aromatherapy oils, is targeted at consumers looking for a ‘wellness' solution by aiming for their mind and spirit.

Aveda, which also highlights its natural ingredients, pioneered much of the consumer interest in its natural products, and retains a loyal consumer following as a result, said the report.

Percolating the Results of New Coffee Study

There's a new swirl of debate brewing about the health effects of coffee, this time the decaffeinated variety. One of the first substantial studies to test it like a drug instead of just asking people how much of it they consumed found higher blood levels of  the bad cholesterol-precursor fats in those drinking decaf vs. regular coffee or none at all.

"It was one of the few coffee studies not funded by industry — federal taxpayers picked up the more than $1 million tab. (If you think that's a lot of money, consider that more than half of Americans drink three cups or more a day).

Participants were given Mr. Coffee machines, premeasured bags of Maxwell House, and periodic blood tests so scientists could tell just how much caffeine and coffee they had consumed over eight weeks.

The 187 volunteers were put into three groups: no coffee, 3 to 6 cups a day of regular, or 3 to 6 cups of decaf. Coffee was consumed black, no cream or sugar. Diet surveys were taken for a week at the beginning and the end so researchers could evaluate whether changes in eating habits might have affected results.

The result: decaf drinkers had modestly higher levels — 8 to 18 percent — of fatty acids and precursors of LDL or bad cholesterol than the others.

Nobody knows why, but Superko has some guesses. Fats give coffee flavor, and a more flavorful species of beans, robusta, is commonly used for decaf to make up for the flavonoids and other ingredients that are lost during the decaffeination process. Regular coffee uses a different bean, arabica.

Frankly, I'm skeptical of the study.  The study, funded by you and me to the tune of $1 million dollars plus - doesn't take into consideration the doughnuts we dunk into our coffee - caffeinated or not.  (oh sure they tested the study group, but I'd behave if I was being tested too)  Surely that's worse on the cholesterol levels  than the coffee?

Why spend money researching coffee (and our money at that) when we could be looking at other more important issues.  Leave the humble coffee bean alone.  We coffee drinkers don't need data to support what we already know.  It is the nectar of the gods and we want ours NOW!

Soybean Oil For Natural Sun Protection

A sunscreen derived from soybean oil could become a commercial product for consumers seeking natural forms of sun protection, says the USDA.

The body says that the newly developed product will be known as SoyScreen after being granted an exclusive patent license on October 3, which was filed by its maker Illinois-based iSoy Technology.

The license stems from a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) in which iSOY is working with USDA Agricultural Research Service chemists to scale up production of SoyScreen, as well as create variations of it having different properties.

The research team developed SoyScreen at the ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Illinois, where 100 full-time scientists explore innovative new ways to create value-added products from US crops, particularly corn and soybeans.

The developers say that they envision SoyScreen could be used in a variety of skin- and hair-care product. Increasingly manufacturers are incorporating sunscreens into a variety of products, including shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers and foundation, as consumers grow increasingly aware of the risks associated with exposure to the sun.

ARS says that SoyScreen owes its sunburn-preventing properties to ferulic acid, an antioxidant in rice, oats and other plants. To keep the antioxidant from dissolving in water, its research team chemically bound it to soy oil using lipase enzymes and heat in an environmentally friendly process called biocatalysis.

The resulting lotion won't wash off from swimming or sweat, and is non-polluting, according to Laszlo, in the ARS center's New Crops and Processing Technology Research Unit.

In sun-protection-factor tests, ARS says that SoyScreen filtered out harmful ultraviolet light as well as four chemical UV absorbers: oxybenzone, dioxybenzone, octyl methoxycinnamate and padimate-O.

Still, the best sunscreen is a hat and body coverage.  My favorite place to get the right gear for sun protection is www.sunsafe.com

Surgical Safari

I'm all about high productivity.  Multi-tasking is my mantra. This latest trend in travel is one I can really buy into.

Imagine getting your dream vacation in and returning from it not only looking rested - but looking different?   

The cost of medicine is sky high in the US.   In Asia you can get a facelift and a week's vacation for a tiny sliver of the US cost.   In South Africa, they'll throw in a full on Safari with a procedure.

Surgical travel packages are on the uptick and it's not just for cosmetic surgery.  Some procedures aren't available in the US, some medicines not FDA approved - with travel costs getting ever more approachable, why not make the world your medical universe?

Thailand's Bumrungrad Hospital has a stellar reputation. Last year this 550 bed hospital treated 360,000 international visitors.

South Africa boasts surgeons who's qualifications are like those here in the US and the UK. Why not see a Rhino before your Rhinoplasty? You can book with a company called Surgeon & Safari, a company that puts together the entire experience for you from procedure to full safari experience.

India is another hot spot for medical Tourism.  Targeting US populations who may not be able to afford lifesaving or cosmetic procedures at home, India hopes to replicate the Thai model for attracting international patients.  One company, Mediecsapes India is leading the way in promoting the country as a destination for procedures ranging from bone marrow transplants to lasik eye surgery.

Even Frommer's, the famed travel publishing company is now publishing reference books on the topic.

So next time you think you need more than a vacation, consider how much more - and weigh your options.

Cervical Cancer Vaccine On The Way

A vaccine that might potentially put an end to cervical cancer comes too late for my friend Mary, who at 32 years old succumbed to this disease.

She was a victim of of a mis-diagnosis which ended up taking her life. And now, there may be a way to prevent the virus that is responsible for most cases of cervical cancer -  human papillomavirus (HPV).   It's bittersweet news for those of us who've lost people to a disease that may actually be eradicated over the next decade.



A genetically-engineered vaccine against cervical cancer is on its way, marking another major step in the battle against the disease, the World Health Organisation has said.

It would be the second vaccine against a major human cancer, following a hepatitis B vaccine that prevents primary liver cancer.

If successful, it could pave the way to defeat for the second most prevalent cancer among women. Breast cancer is the first.

WHO scientists were meeting this week in Geneva to take stock of developments. On Friday they said there are several candidates for such a vaccine.

Tackling a global problem

There are 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer each year, and nearly 300,000 deaths annually, according to the WHO.

Eighty 80 per cent of these occur in developing countries.

Scientists believe that essentially all cervical cancer is caused by infection with a few types of human papillomavirus (HPV).

Scientists looking to develop a vaccine have approached the problem from different angles, but have mainly focussed on genetically-engineered VLPs (virus-like particles).

These are not infectious and cannot cause cancer because they contain no DNA.

Some of the research groups are looking at creating a vaccine that prevents the cancer developing at all.

Others are developing vaccines that would prevent recurrence of cancer or tackle it once it has developed.

Hurdles before the finishing post

The scientists said they all faced "huge obstacles".

Part of the reason for this is that their experimentation is limited, because fully infectious HPVs are harmful.

The meeting agreed that a preventive vaccine should have priority.

Ideally this could be targeted at a young population that is not yet sexually active, although older people may also benefit from such a vaccine, they said.

The WHO said the vaccine trials must include representative groups "to ensure global relevance".

Color Trends for Beauty Product Packaging

Promotion & Packaging - these two elements move a product off the shelf faster than the actual ingredients you are buying.  So.... are you interested to know how your beauty products will be packaged over the next two years?

New York based company,Ampacet has unveiled the 16 colors for plastics beauty packaging that it believes will set the trend for cosmetic and toiletry products during the course of the next two years - and it is orange that looks set to make it big.

The New York-based company says the palette has been derived from a broad research into color influences, preferences and trends.

And according to that research, the big color in 2006 and beyond is going to be orange, which will put up stiff competition with the ever-popular red. ”Orange is present in the 2007 palette in a range of values from high chroma to pale-blush peach. Purple in all its variants is also coming front and center as a strong influence.”

The demands for niche packaging is yielding colors that express personalization and strength. Again orange, backed up by gold undertones, becomes an important part of this category, something the company calls its Sunkissed Orange.

Backing up Ampacet's theory that orange is going to become increasingly important in the future is the recent launch of L'Oreal Men's Expert range of skin care products. The packaging, which is highlighted with bold orange trim and detail, has helped to make the line a tremendous success, despite early reservations by some about the color choice.

Did you ever notice the color of Salubrious Life...........eerie huh?????