My friend’s son has had warts on his hands for as long as he can remember.  He’s had them frozen, burned and chemically removed.  He’s taken drugs to fight them from the inside too.  Because of their severity, he usually removes more than one wart at a time, which is very painful.  But alas, they always come back.  Common warts can be found on the hands, feet, forearms and face and their size ranges from a pinhead to a pea.  Some are found on the voice box or larynx and be the cause for some hoarseness.   My friend’s son was on vacation and started using a common household ingredient on his hands and by the end of the week started to notice a huge improvement on his hands!  He continued using this treatment and in a few weeks his hands were completely clear of all warts!  I’ll tell you what he used at the end of this post.

Common warts are noncancerous skin growths caused by over 100 types of a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV).  The virus causes a rapid growth of cells.  Common warts are not like moles and usually are harmless and often eventually disappear.  But how long do you have to wait?  They are bothersome, embarrassing and become a cosmetic concern.  These common warts usually grow on hands and fingers.  Some treatments will prevent warts from spreading to other body parts or to other people, but the chance of getting common warts from someone is very small.  However, they can recur after treatment and become a persistent problem and if you are susceptible to the virus you always will be.  The virus itself is not contagious, but it can spread by entering through a small break in the skin.  This type of virus is rarely transferred by contact with the infected person or anything they touch.

If you or your child has had or has common hand warts, you’ve probably tried all the common so-called cures, from freezing to over the counter drugs like salicylic acid.   Salicylic acid can cause redness and burn, but will not scar or infect.  If you have diabetes, consult with your doctor before treating your common warts with salicylic acid.  Here are some supplements to add to your routine:  Vitamin C-4,000 to 10,000 mg daily for antiviral, Vitamin E capsules-400-800 IU daily, you can also open the capsule and apply directly to warts, Zinc-50-80 mg daily, which can increase immunity against viruses.  The Prescription For Nutritional Healing also states “some people have had good results with a crushed garlic clove placed directly on the warts.” 

To avoid spreading common warts, keep hands as dry as possible, don’t shave, pick, comb or brush the area, don’t pick or bite your fingernails and wash hands thoroughly after touching the warts.  And here’s that old adage, ignore them and they’ll eventually go away!  However, that may be weeks, months or years. 

So now are you ready for what he used to get rid of his warts?  Common hand sanitizer.  That’s right.  Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer.  He started using it for some reason on the island, and noticed immediately that his warts got better.  He continued to use it every day after he returned home and within weeks his hands were wart free.   This just happened, so I will keep you posted if they return, but this was the first time in years he’s been wart free.  And his Mom said his hands are beautiful!   It’s worth a try.  Let me know if you suffer from hand warts and you try this method, how it turns out for you.  My daughter has one single wart on her knee that we’ve frozen off a couple of times and is still there.  I’m going to start this new treatment and see what happens. 

Be happy and healthy!  It’s in your own hands!

These statements should not take the place of your primary health care physician and have not been evaluated by the FDA.  Seek advice from your medial practitioner if your common warts persist, multiply rapidly or cause you pain.

I’ll admit it….even I’m confused as to whether the sun is good for you or not.  We all agree that when the sun shines, our mood definitely changes, and we don’t even have to be out in it.  However, in most areas of the US, most people rarely are exposed to the sun.  You are working during the week and the time you spend outside for lunch, I’m sure you are covered up with clothing.  Every cell and tissue needs vitamin D.  Vitamin D regulates over 2,000 genes in your body.  No, there are no physical signs of vitamin D deficiency, however it can support heart, skin, eye, reproductive, respiratory vascular system, immune and pancreatic health.  It can also aid in hearing, sleep patterns, cell formation, muscles, proper digestion and food absorption, moods, and it can encourage calcium absorption.  So for all of that, I guess we should look into what “they” are saying about sun exposure.

Vitamin D can be obtained through natural sun exposure and the body will regulate what you receive.  There are a few foods where vitamin D can be found.  Oily fish and eggs are a couple.  Another way is through taking vitamin D3.  What I’ve read about this is, you would need to have your levels tested because you can overdose on this.  You should check with your doctor if you choose this path.  You should also check with your primary care physician if you have had any melanoma or history of skin disorders in your family.  Another way to get your vitamin D is through a tanning bed that uses UV-B rays.  Me?  I’m not a fan of those beds.  I am of the belief that just like anything else, sun exposure is ok in moderation.  I wear sun screen on my face always.  Getting older and my Italian skin is prone to aging these days.

It doesn’t take long in the sun to get your daily requirement. Most sites are saying 15 minutes.  Any time after that amount, consider yourself unprotected and at risk of eye damage, cancer, immune system problems, especially children.  They are out in the sun for long periods of time.  Check the expiration date on your sunscreen.  What about a base tan?  A base tan may cause you to stay in the sun longer, thinking you won’t burn.  I’m going back to moderate exposure. 

I’m always surprised how the sun goes through clothing!  UV rays will go through cotton.  So don’t just put a t-shirt on your child.  Get them in the shade.  Here’s something I just found out…..SPF factor (sun protection factor) describes how long a product will protect your skin, not how much more UV radiation it will block.  Read the directions and reapply as directed.  Fair skin people will begin to burn in 15 minutes.  My daughter is VERY fair skinned and she has burned a couple of times.  Tanning and burning injures the skin.  The UV damage to the deep layers will build up from every tan and burn. 

In closing, if you have had any skin cancer, please follow your doctor’s advice.  Even if you are in your car during the peak hours, apply sun screen.  Everything in moderation. 

It’s SUMMER!  Be safe and have fun.

I talked a little in my last blog about how we absorb toxins through the skin, the largest organ in the body.  Anything you put on your skin, will get into your body.  A general rule would be…if you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your body.  The FDA warns you of chemicals that are for external use only.  So yes, I wouldn’t eat it, but even if we put these toxins on our skin, they will enter our bloodstream.  A Swiss study concluded that five of the most common chemicals in sunscreen cause cancer.  Several other studies actually show that appropriate sun exposure may prevent skin cancer.  That’s another blog….back to how toxins can get in your body.

The nose.  What are you inhaling in your work and home environment?   Air fresheners, smoke, cleaning chemicals, mold, dust, pollens, and the fumes that come out of the carpeting.  Air fresheners only mask the odor. They are filled with deadly, poisonous chemicals.  For many years I inhaled a common cleaning chemical (I have a cleaning business).  When I started a wheatgrass routine, I expelled mucous the color and smell of this chemical!  Anything that you can smell, is going into your body.  Today we are inhaling toxins on a daily basis.  Get yourself out into nature where the only thing you inhale is the air, the smell of trees and grass.  Reducing the toxins you inhale can have a dramatic effect on your health, helping you with depression, anxiety, irritability, appetite, digestion and sleep.

The eyes.  Through the eyes, solar energy penetrates the body.  The sun is not a toxin.  Lack of sun creates deficiencies and leads to imbalance and disease.  Images entering the eyes are toxic.  Violence from all forms of the media can create bad emotions, causing the body to become acidic.  Remember, we want our bodies to be more alkaline.

The ears.  Things that you put in your ears as well as sound that enter your ears can be toxic.  Sounds are vibration and frequency.  My brother has done tests on growing wheatgrass.  Classical music had a positive effect on the growth of wheatgrass.  Certain music has been know to cause plants to wither and die.  Repetitive sound can cause stress.  Certain frequencies can enter through the ear and cause every cell to be stressed.  This in turn causing dis-ease in the body.  Toxic words from someone, can also enter your body.  Stress and the body?  We already know that’s a bad idea.  Walk in nature and listen to all the sounds.  How about chirping birds and insects, running water and the sound of the wind for stress relief?

Okay, so toxins are out there.  And not just in the air or at the local nuclear power plant.  Consider not only the carbs, calories and fats that are in your food, but the chemicals in processed foods that also enter your bloodstream and organs.  Address the toxins in your life today.  What are you eating? What are you breathing?  What and who are you listening to?   

Unnatural electromagnetic energy is attacking our bodies every day.  Satellites, radar, cell phones, cell phone towers, high tension power lines, electric wiring, computers, microwave ovens and even people emit electromagnetic energy.  Negatively charged ions have a positive effect on the body.  These life-enhancing ions are in the running water of the stream, waterfalls or the ocean.  Wind blowing through the trees also emit these ions.

What are you going to do today to feel good?  Go outside and find some fresh air.  Breathe deeply.  Eliminate the amount of television, computer, and microwave use as much as you can.  Speak positively.  Meditate.  Eat slowly.  Love life.

Everyone is reading their food labels and that’s great!  But are you looking at the label of your make-up, your hand and body lotion, your toothpaste?  Let’s look at a few ingredients in many popular health and beauty products.  This is just a small example of what is in some products.  Just to give you an idea.  Start researching what you put on your body.  These products are absorbed into the skin and some of them, when high levels are reached in the body, can be very toxic.

A product can be considered toxic when it is absorbed into the body thereby having a harmful or altering affect on the body.  Certain cosmetic ingredients in hand and body lotion can actualy make your skin more dry, causing you to need more lotion.  Convenient, right?  You’ll have to buy more product!  Preservatives are substances that cosmetic manufacturers use to extend the shelf life of their products.  Do preservatives protect the consumer?  No, the only thing they do is allow products to sit on the shelf in warehouses, protecting the manufacturer. 

Here are a few common ingredients to look for in your cabinet, some good, some not so good:

Acetone: Commonly used in nail polish, this product is toxic. Look for Acetone-free polish remover. 

Alcohol:  There are both natural and synthetic alcohols.  Synthetic alcohol such as isopropyl alcohol is a petroleum (carcinegenic) product.  Alcohol can disolve fat in your skin and can be drying to the skin.  Natural alcohol is better tolerated by your skin.

Aloe Vera:  Extract from the aloe vera plant can be used to soothe and moisturize hair and skin and it aids in healing.  Cut spiky leaves from the plant and open to reveal the gooey substance.

BHA and BHT:  Preservatives commonly used in food products and cosmetic ingredients.  These are synthetic antioxidants (Natural ones are Vitamin E, cysteine and selenium).  BHT and BHA, used in cosmetics, are toxic and cause allergic reactions.  BHA and BHT in your food, added as a preservative, can deplete brain cells in growing children.   This is a VERY common preservative.  Take a look in your cabinet right now.   Almost all breakfast cereals contain these two ingredients.

Benzophenone:  Chemical listed from 1-12.  This is used to prevent cosmetic color from fading and is toxic.

Calamine:  Used as a soothing lotion and is Non-toxic.

Calendula:  Used in cosmetics and creams for its soothing effect on skin and is Non-toxic.

D & C Colors:  Term used by the FDA referring to “Drug” and “Cosmetic”.  All of these colors are toxic because most contain synthetic coal tar substances.  These colors are often used in food, candy, and health and beauty aids. 

EDTA (Ethylenedinitrilo):  A synthetic chemical used to soften water. This is toxic and can cause skin irritations and allergic reactions.

Glycerine:  A natural emollient derived from vegetable oil.  Non-toxic.  Glycerine soap is all that I use I my body.  This winter I rarely had dry skin.

Hydrolized Protein:  A code word for MSG. It is a neuro-toxin and causes headaches.  Found in food and cosmetics.  Another common additive.  It supposedly makes food taste better, not to mention the negative effect of nausea and headaches. Have you tried raw food?  Now that’s some good tasting food.

Magnesium Aluminum Silicate:  A gum used as thickener, suspension agent, or for coloring.  Contains aluminum, known to build up in the body to toxic levels and silicon, which can be harmful to the respiratory track. 

Methyl Paraben:  Widely used even though it is known to be toxic. Can cause allergic reactions and skin rashes. It is a toxic synthetic chemical.

Polysorbates (20, 40, 61, 65, 80, 85):  Used in cosmetics to help dissolve natural oils.  Can be extremely drying to the scalp. 

Propyl Gallate and Propyl Paraben:  Causes skin irritation and allergic reactions.  Toxic.

PVP:  Petroleum derived.  Particles can contribute to foreign bodies in the lungs to people sensitive to it.  I stopped using any petroleum product a long time ago.  Petroleum distillates may cause cancer, are harmful and may cause lung damage if swallowed.  Granted, I’m not going to swallow it, but what do you think is happening when you apply it to your lips or body?  It’s being absorbed through your skin, the largest organ of the body.

Stearic Acid:  Used in creams.  Can cause allergic reactions.

Triethanolamine and Diethanolamine (TEA and DEA):  Used in cosmetics.  Cause allergic reactions, dryness of skin and hair, and can be toxic when absorbed into the body over a period of time. 

Toxic is toxic.  Low or high, I’d rather stay away from all toxic products that go in my body and on my body.  There are many natural alternatives to all the products you use, from hand soap to shampoo.   Most large grocery stores now have a “natural food” section if there is not a health food store in your area.  Take an interest in your health.  Read the label.  Not just your food, but the health and beauty products that you use every day.  Throw away old make-up containers that are three months or older.  And check out your sun screen. It will have an expiration date.  Here’s a great website for you to take a look at:  http://www.natural-skincare-authority.com/index.html

Wishing you healthy and glowing skin!

So before getting into it I’ll make the usual challenge of $5 off any purchase to anyone who names the song and artist that title is from. I make that type of offer a lot and I’m continually surprised when no one takes me up on it. (I find chastising is an effective way to begin so as to engage the reader.)

Now let’s get into the meat of this article (calm down veggies). They say “beauty’s but skin deep”. I’m not sure exactly what that means but I’ve heard it and using quotes is another way to engage the reader and to make yourself look intelligent. They also say that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” so according to these two sources it can be found either in the skin or the eye. Of course I’ve misunderstood things before. But there’s one place I know it can’t be found and that’s wolfing down half pound angus burgers from Mickie D’s every day or so. Yes, we’re a beauty obsessed culture. But I believe there’s a big difference between real beauty and the cookie cutter, surgically enhanced ideal put forth by pop culture. There is beauty in all of us and unfortunately, most often it is our own attitude and lifestyle that restrains it. Fortunately there are some very simple ways you can go about choosing the right foods that can give you clear skin, shiny hair, a brighter smile and bring out the most beautiful you possible.

Omega-3 fatty acids help decrease inflammation, aid in treating psoriasis (an inflammatory skin condition) and improve blood circulation which produces a healthy glow. One study in Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that elderly people who had eaten more fish and veggies over their lifetime had fewer wrinkles. The best source of omega-3s is fish; Wild salmon, sardines, Atlantic mackerel and herring.

Fill your diet with color. Dark orange, red or green fruit and vegetables like carrots, butternut squash, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and spinach all contain a high level of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that converts to vitamin A in your body and switches on DNA that’s in charge of producing new skin cells and shedding old ones. This keeps the surface of your skin smooth, fresh-looking and resistant to irritants and damage. Beta-carotene also destroys free radicals that cause DNA mutations that can lead to wrinkles. Many of these fruits and veggies can be juiced or blended while maintaining their nutritional integrity.

Dairy products, especially yogurt, are a great source of calcium but did you know that all green, leafy vegetables contain calcium. Great sources are kale and collards, beets and turnip tops and of course broccoli (all of which can be juiced). Calcium is important for teeth and a beautiful smile. It creates cavity-resistant tooth enamel when you’re young and maintains it as an adult to keep your teeth strong. Studies show that people who get enough calcium are less likely to have severe gum disease.

Zinc is a critical beauty enhancer, contributing to nearly every enzyme in your skin, including those that help create collagen and produce new cells. It also aids in healing wounds and there’s some evidence that the anti-inflammatory properties in zinc supplements play a role in calming skin conditions such as acne. Both zinc and iron are key to cell production in hair follicles so a deficiency in either nutrient could also cause hair to thin or even fall out. Your nails benefit from zinc and iron as well. Whole grains, fortified cereals, lean beef and oysters are great sources of zinc and iron.

Dark chocolate, sunflower seeds and green tea are packed with antioxidants that protect skin from free radicals. Sunflower seeds have tons of vitamin E which blocks free radicals from attacking the membranes so cells stay alive. Compounds found in green tea can suppress agents that trigger inflammation and both green tea and dark chocolate provide powerful antioxidants known as polyphenols. Regular intake of polyphenols found in cocoa may keep skin hydrated and lessen the effects of a sunburn; researchers aren’t sure why but speculate that it has to do with the polyphenols’ ability to increase blood flow to the skin.

Strawberries, citrus, red bell peppers and broccoli are all loaded with vitamin C which triggers fibroblast cells that make collagen, the support system under the skin’s surface. The healthier your infrastructure of collagen, the firmer and smoother your skin will look.

Now… go be gorgeous.

Be Well,

Juicy Josh

877MyJuicer.com