Health Buzzz

Everyone wants to be healthy and there are so many books, magazines, blogs, sites, and more about being healthy.

The best way to good health is the natural way.

This means that we all need to do our best to eat healthily (not to eat junk food), to use natural drugs (like herbs) as much as possible (not to take chemical medications), and to keep away from pollution as much as possible (use water filters, air cleaners, etc).

Good clean living is what everyone needs.

Let's make an effort together to pass on information that will help others.

If you have a health blog, please send me a link, or post about it here so we can have a real network.

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GMO's are genetically modified organisms.

Read the next three articles (these were originally published in my weekly article for the Arab Times Newspaper in Kuwait.

Image Credit; foodrenegade.com

We have been talking for the past couple of weeks about "health foods" and industry definitions for various terms such as "natural" and "organic", etc. While that information is extremely important, there is another type of qualification of foods that we haven't talked about. I am talking about the group of foods that are referred to under the title of "genetically modified organisms" (which we will call GMO's from now on). Before getting into the details of the havoc that can be wreaked on our health through our contact with GMO's, we need to know what they are.
GMO's are also known as "genetically engineered organisms", "genetically modified foods", "genetically modified animals", "genetically modified crops", and there are a few other terms as well. They fall under the category of any living thing that has its DNA modified through the insertion or deletion of genetic material in order to change (supposedly to improve) the organism's general makeup or to change (again, supposedly to improve) certain characteristics of the organism. Sound like Frankenstein? Well, it is.

And, according to the scientific studies that have been done this is not a good thing. In fact, there was a group of studies done (that was later attempted to be quashed by the supporters of the use of GMO's (foods which contain these are often not so lovingly called "Frankenfoods"), but eventually some information about the studies got out anyway) that showed clearly that GMO's were not only dangerous but deadly. Tests done using baby rats whose mothers were fed using GMO foods (specifically potatoes and soy) were dead within 3 weeks! And many more studies done around the world have shown a variety of dangerous findings including: death, brain defects, cancerous growths, miscellaneous severe allergies, organ damage, immune system damage, irritable bowel syndrome (and other digestive problems, including diarrhea, vomiting, and more), sterility, chronic fatigue syndrome, skin problems (including acne and eczema), and a lot more.

While there are many supporters of GMO's, there are getting to be a lot more detractors that supporters and there is a good reason for this. Notwithstanding the big money companies that whole heartedly support the creation and use of GMO's, scientific proof is adding up rapidly that GMO's are nothing but trouble for human and animal health. In fact there have been several, in fact, hundreds, even thousands of studies that have been done that show that GMOs are absolutely dangerous for human and animal health, and in some places, Europe, for example, through the efforts of researchers and consumers, GMO's have been banished. But in many places in the world GMO's are still being used widely in the production of foodstuff that you and I are eating, and I, for one, want it stopped. Why should I have to risk my health every time I eat something by adding to my slow poisoning.

One of the problems is that GMO's do not have to be identified in foods! So, anything you eat could contain GMO's and you won't even know it. In fact, anything that isn't specifically labeled "GMO free", "non-GMO", "organic", "100% organic", "100% grass fed", "hbGH free" (this is a genetically modified hormone that is often given to animals, particularly cows), and "rbST free" (the same genetically modified hormone), "no artificial hormones", and a few others, will most likely contain GMO's, and that is a very dangerous thing. That means that people are going around eating foods that seem healthy and wholesome that are actually increasing their chance for disease and even death.

The problem is that there are so many different "professional" opinions about the use of GMO's. The growers and manufacturers are pro-GMO for what are obviously purely economical reasons, which is understandable on the one hand, but is not acceptable in any case, considering what they know about the dangers to humans and animals from the use of GMO's. And those who are fighting against the use of GMO's (and even against the growth of GMO crops - because the dangers of such crops even affect people living nearby who haven't even eaten them and have only inhaled their pollens, etc.) are getting barriers set up right and left by those who don't want to see the GMO's banned. Even in those countries that have banned GMO's there are constant battles waged in an attempt to reinstate GMO crops and foods. It seems absurd that there would be people out there who would deliberately persist in promoting products that are clearly dangerous. I wonder if they feed those products they promote to themselves and their own families? Somehow I doubt it. Money is great, but not at the expense of the lives and health of innocent humans and animals.

What we as individual consumers can do something though. We can become aware of the issue, pass information on to our friends and loved ones, and make sure that we don't buy products containing GMO's. If everyone stopped supporting the use of GMO crops and animals as acceptable ingredients in foods, the producers would be forced to stop making them. There simply wouldn't be any economical reason to make them anymore, because no one would buy them. This is exactly what many have done in Europe, and while the war of the bans are still being fought, so far the smaller battles have been won in favor of the consumers. Yay! While Americans and others haven't come that far yet, they are on their way, and we (all of us consumers) need to do the same if we want to protect ourselves and have long lives with good health.

Image Credit: stonyfield.com

We began talking about GMO (genetically modified organisms), which are animals and plants (and thus, foods) that have been altered genetically for the supposed purpose of making them better in some way (either to make them bug or disease resistant, or bigger, etc). What started out perhaps being a good idea (or at least a project with good intentions) seems to have turned into a Frankensteinish nightmare of death, disease, and denial.

As scientific studies turn out more and more of the reasons why humans and animals shouldn't be eating GMOs, we as consumers have to step up and say "no"! In Europe the only way that GMO's were stopped was because the people themselves refused to buy them. You know how business economy works. It's all supply and demand. So, if people stop demanding something or if people demand that something goes, it will. In many countries though, the majority of consumers either aren't aware of the dangers of GMO's or they haven't stepped up to take action in doing something about it yet. Either way, it is imperative that they do so right away, before entire countries' populations' health is destroyed.

So, what can we do? Well, first of all, right away, what we can do is to simply not buy GMO foods. While this sounds like a simple solution, unfortunately, it's not as simple as it seems. In order to do this we need to know what the foods are that contain the GMO's in the first place. There are so many products out there that have multiple ingredients that it is extremely difficult to keep track. But, if you are diligent, you can. So, today you are going to get a head start.

There are a few main crops you need to know about that are definitely GMO unless specifically labeled otherwise. The main two crops are corn and soy. If you have ever read an ingredients list on any pre-prepared or manufactured food product, you can almost guarantee that one of those ingredients will be found in the list in one of the many forms possible. In fact these ingredients are everywhere, even in baby food, so watch out! Here is a list of key ingredients to look out for:

Corn:

Canned Corn, Corn on the Cob, Corn Syrup (HFCS) or High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Oil, Corn Flour (also known as "corn starch"), Glucose, Fructose, Corn Syrup Solids, Corn Masa, Corn Meal, Corn Sugar, Dextrose, Dextrin, Maltodextrin, Ethanol, Ascorbic Acid, Baking Powder, Caramel Color, Calcium Citrate, Citric Acid, Decyl Glucoside, Ferrous Gluconat, Flavoring (some), Golden Syrup, Honey (some honey products have corn syrup added), Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), Iodized Salt (some of the products in the market are processed using dextrose), Lactic Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Magnesium Citrate, Magnesium Stearate, Malic Acid, Malt, Malt Flavoring, Maltitol, Maltodextrin, Maltose, Mannitol, Methyl Gluceth, Modified Food Starch, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), Polydextrose, Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polysorbates, Potassium Citrate, Powdered Sugar, Saccharin, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Starch Glycolate, Sorbitan, Sorbitan Monostearate, Sorbitol, Starch, Sucralose (in brands like Splenda and others- check ingredients to be sure), Sweet'n Low, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Vanilla Extract, Distilled White Vinegar, most vitamins, Xanthan Gum, Xylitol, Zein (in some medications), Maize, Corn Gluten, Cellulose, Cobalamin (vitamin B12), Cyclodextrin, Cystein, Diacetyl, Glutamate, Glutamic Acid, Gluten, Glycerides (Mono- and Diglycerides), Glycerol, Glycerine, Glycine, Hemicellulose,, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolates, Inositol, Invert Sugar (or Inverse Syrup, also may be listed as inversol or colorose), Lactic Acid, Lactoflavin, Lecithin, Leucine, Lysine, Methylcellulose, Milo Starch, Monooleate, Oleic Acid, Phenylalanine, Phytic Acid, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Stearic Acid, Threonine, Trehalose, and even more.
(If you don't have a headache yet, read on)%u2026

Soy:

Soy Beans, Soy Flour, Soy Oil, Vegetable Oil, Tofu, Soy Sauce, Soy Protein, Soy Isolates, Soy Isoflavones, Soy Lecithin, Vegetable Proteins, Textured Vegetable Protein, Tamari, Tempeh, Soy Protein Supplements, Natural Flavors (know what they are), Soy Milk, Soy Cheese, soy Ice Cream, Soy Yogurt, Soy Meat Substitutes, Teriyaki Products, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), and a lot more.

Now this is beginning to feel like practically every manufactured food in supermarkets today, isn't it? If that is how it seems, that it how it is. Scary, isn't it? So, now let's get out there and do something about it!

How you can help save mankind from death and disease is by refusing to buy GMO products. Buy whole foods and prepare things yourself. If you absolutely don't have the time to cook and prepare everything yourself, then make sure that you are buying GMO free, non-GMO, organic, etc.

Image Credit: laurakowalewski.wordpress.com

We have been talking about genetically modified organisms (GMO's) for the past two articles now, and this time we are going to be finishing up the subject. This article is mostly going to be information about other foods (besides the corn products and derivatives and the soy products and derivatives) that are GMO or may contain GMO constituents.

One of the most common GMO foods is one that most people think of as healthy. Canola oil, which is one of the popular "healthy" cooking oils in the supermarket these days, is mostly a GMO oil. If you want to make sure that the canola oil that you are buying is safe, you need to buy one that states it is either: "100% organic", "organic", "certified organic", "GMO free", "verified non-GMO", or something similar. If it doesn't say that don't buy it. So the oils that you don't have to worry about are: sunflower, olive, coconut (which it turns out is quite healthy, but we will talk about that later), sesame, and peanut oils (those that are available here).

The other important product that we all buy and almost no one knows is usually a GMO product is sugar! You're probably all pretty surprised right now, but that is the way it is. Most sugar that is sold today, both white and sugar that is listed as an ingredient in foods is GMO. The sugar comes from sugar beets, which are a mostly GMO produce. So, if you want to buy white or brown sugar, make sure that your sugar is coming from sugar cane, not sugar beets. Sugar from sugar will normally be labeled "pure cane sugar". Otherwise, make sure that your sugar is organic or GMO free.

Now, for another shock%u2026 most dairy is GMO or some kind of GMO derivative. That is because most of the dairy cows have been injected with genetically modified growth hormone. So, again, when it comes to dairy, we need to ask about the sources, or look for organic or non-GMO or some other label, such as: "no artificial hormones", "no rbGH", "no rbST", or something similar. Now, I know that trying to get dairy products that are GMO free is not going to be an easy task, but we need to make demands of our dairy producers and insist that we want GMO free dairy, and simply not buy anything else. A word of warning about dairy alternatives: don't go for the soy milk that so many people are into right now. Soy is not that good for you even when it's organic (for a number of reasons that we have talked about before in an earlier article), and particularly if it's from a GM source (which most soy is). But, almond and rice milk might be acceptable, particularly if they are organic. And if you just have to have milk, then choose from a safe source. The same goes for other dairy products, including yogurt and cheese.

Now for a big warning that you must pay attention to%u2026 here we have just been talking about dairy products. Well, when it comes to baby milk, the same information goes. Baby milk usually has GMO milk, GMO soy, GMO corn syrup, or a host of other GMO ingredients. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get baby milk that is GMO free. But you must try. In fact, if I want to be bold, which I am going to be this time, either breast feed (and be careful to eat the right foods), or feed your baby only non-GMO source foods, including baby formula. Do we have a deal? I'm going to go so far as to beg here. It is imperative that you do this, because a baby is a developing little human being, and babies need as much good food as possible in order to grow their organs into healthy ones and keep their brains in optimal condition. Even if you insist on living in fast food joints in spite of the fact that you know what's good for you, don't do it to your baby. Let your baby have a chance at a good, healthy, intelligent life. (Yes, intelligent, because GMO foods will sap a person's brain cells, and make them stop working well, and your baby's brain cells are just growing, so please take care of them).

The same goes for the juices and flavored soft drinks that we and our children drink. Read the labels. If there is fructose, glucose, corn syrup, sugar, etc., forget them. They are more than likely GMO unless otherwise marked. Stick with fresh, natural juices from preferably organic sources (or at least fruit that is not normally GMO or full of other chemicals (such as pesticides, etc). And, as for the diet drinks and diabetic foods, those too are riddled with dangerous ingredients. Ingredients like aspartame, which is in practically every diet drink on the market now, are GM. That might be why people who are trying to lose weight tend to stall when they drink diet drinks and use artificial sweeteners, particularly those with aspartame.

There are other categories of foods that are GMO or contain GMO ingredients, but I'm going to leave the rest of the research to you. Most of the ingredients are ones that have been mentioned in this or the previous two articles. So, just be careful with what you put in your stomach and on your skin and hair. In case you haven't noticed, many different types of diseases are increasing in the worldwide statistics, and one of the reasons this is happening is because of the GMO's that food manufacturers are trying to pawn off on us, and almost forcing us to eat.

But, this is now becoming a short leash. In order to stay in business, people are going to have to be convinced to buy GMO foods. But, if we all band together and get our friends to do so also, then I know we can be partly responsible for getting rid of GMO foods and ingredients from the market.

Be healthy, be safe, and take care.

Image Credit: web.ics.purdue.edu

Basically, it is simply a really, really healthful way to eat.

It is all about healthful organic foods and more!

It is also about weight loss, but in a reasonable, non faddy way.

I love this program!

I have it, and I use it with my hair analysis diet (you can use it with any other program, too).

It's an inexpensive program that gives so much more than it takes....

Am I promoting it?

I sure am!

I love this program!

Click on the picture below to get it now!

I am going to be putting up all of Isabel De Los Rios's Youtube videos here on this lens, because they are simple, easy to understand and straight to the point.

No need to mince words.

Eat healthily!

If you want to try out her program (yes, I AM promoting it, because it is absolutely fantastic, and DO get the printed copy of the book too, it is super useful)....

Click on the picture below to check out great articles for free (and if you want to order this really great program, you can do that, too).

This is definitely money well spent (and if you don't like it, you get your money back)...

There are so many different health products out there that it's very difficult to know which one or ones to choose.

Everyone makes so many interesting claims in their advertising!

There are definitely a lot of scams out there, too.

So, we need to be very careful before we make our decisions on what we are going to be putting into our bodies.

Before doing anything, make sure you ask enough questions, and do enough research.

Just because something is recommended, doesn't mean it's necessarily good for you.

So, don't take anyone's word for it.

Find out yourself, and once you are satisfied either with the statistics or with the scientific information that you have, then you can go on and choose your products in an educated manner.

I endorse many different health products in my own natural medicine practice.

Some of these products are my own and some are from a variety of companies.

But whichever products I endorse, I do so only after a great deal of research and discovery, because I only have time for reall healthful and wholesome products.

Photo Credit: dietmaze.com

Make a list for 3 days of whatever you eat. Look at this list when you're done honestly and carefully, and see what changes need to be done.

Exchange soft drinks for water.

Exchange white flour for wholewheat (or another type, like rye, oat, etc), but NOT soy (this includes pasta, bread, etc)

Completely cut out the sugar from your diet, whenever possible. Natural alternatives would be maple sugar or stevia. If you choose maple sugar, keep it in low quantities.

Keep your high glycemic fruit intake down to a minimum. Although these are natural and healthful, you still need to keep the fructose intake low.

Increase your whole vegetables and healthy proteins, and you will be well on your way to good health!

The other day in the news Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream announced that they were going to be changing their labels on all of their products. They are going to take of the "All Natural" statement found above the "Ben and Jerry's" logo on the front of every container. The thing is that they haven't changed any of their ingredients, so why are they changing the labels? Well, apparently people have been complaining for some time about that label, claiming that due to certain ingredients in the ice cream (which the company is not planning on changing at all) the ice cream can't claim that it is "all natural". The thing is that, according to USA law, they can claim that because there are no specific ingredients regulations that force them to take that label off. So, why are people complaining?

In fact, over the years there have been several cases brought to courts over this labeling controversy, and the issue is still open. Many products, including Snapple, 7 Up, Capri Sun have been among the complaints, and there are more. The fact is that even in the government agencies there is no real consensus about what these labels are supposed to mean or guarantee.

When it comes to the "all natural" statement on product labels, this is really quite open to interpretation. When it comes to the meaning of "natural" in most foods the regulations are quite lax, basically only requiring the hygiene and manufacture that is required for any type of foodstuff (this is different when it comes to meat and poultry though, which is stricter in definition, and requires that nothing artificial at all is added during preparation and minimal processing is done). This having been said, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration - USA) has finally decided that high fructose corn syrup is not natural by definition. Finally! It's about time they took a stand on something! Now, they need to move on and carry through with other not-so-natural ingredients. Manufacturers have been for years requesting a clear definition that they can work with regarding labeling, but as of now, none looks forthcoming other than the standard: "FDA has not established a formal definition for the term 'natural', however the agency has not objected to the use of the term on food labels provided it is used in a manner that is truthful and not misleading and the product does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances. Use of the term 'natural' is not permitted in the ingredient list, with the exception of the phrase 'natural flavorings" and "a natural' product is one that has not had any artificial or synthetic substances added to the product that would not normally be expected to be in the food - including artificial flavors or color additives, regardless of source" , which has been the FDA's standard natural food definition up to now.

The fact is that whether the FDA and other government agencies around the world, or the food and drink manufacturers like it or not, consumers increasingly want and, indeed, are demanding more natural ingredients in foods. They simply don't want over processed foods and drinks filled with empty calories any more, and they want clear definitions and clear labeling to help them decide on which products to buy.

So what are consumers expected to do? How can we the eaters and drinkers of these products make sure that what we are getting is healthy and wholesome? The best way to do this is to read the entire label. Make sure that you know what each ingredient is, and if there is something you're unsure about, then go on the Internet and research it. Some of the ingredients that you will find listed on foods aren't as clear cut as you would expect either. For example, there is the case of MSG, which has been touted of recent to be the possible cause of allergies, food sensitivities, various digestive upsets and even cancers. Apparently there was an issue of a complaint against a manufacturer that was making a supposedly "natural" veggie burger product that contained a type of yeast in the ingredients list. Upon further investigation, it turns out that this yeast (autolyzed yeast extract) actually contains MSG, but, as you can see, this isn't mentioned on the label. There are many other examples of this same problem.

So, don't just believe everything you read on food or drink labels, because often the laws don't have clear definitions for these ingredients. If you truly want to eat completely natural and healthy foods, you must do the label research yourself, or eat foods taken directly out of the garden (not grown with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, etc - more on that later), or off the farm. While this is no easy task, it can certainly be done and many people around the world are doing just that.

Photo Credit: wildflavors.com

There is a tanning craze going on here in Kuwait. This phenomenon is particularly popular with teenagers and the 20 something crowd, but not exclusively so. These days we are seeing more "sun worshippers" at the Kuwait beaches than we have ever seen before. They are all going after a great day swimming at the beach and having fun, but even more important to them is that bronzy golden tan that is so sought after. Fun, yes, but how safe is it? According to the experts, it isn't safe to be out in the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., particularly in places like Kuwait where the weather is so hot. But here in Kuwait that is exactly the time when you will find the most people out in the sun swimming and tanning at the local beaches and pools. Anyone who is out around in the sun needs to be aware of the dangers, including the street workers, construction workers, and even the people who are just strolling around at the local market. Every once in a while you will see someone here walking around shading themselves from the sun with an umbrella, but the vast majority of people walk around with the sun pounding down directly on their heads. If the strong sun is not great for the normal person walking around, then how dangerous must it be for the people at the pools and beaches? Imagine how much damage the sun is doing while the people are laying there on the beach soaking up the sun!

We always hear about how it is important to use sun screen and similar protective products when we are out in the sun. Especially here in Kuwait where the sun is extremely strong, sun care products are particularly important. Skin cancer is a real problem, and we need to be very careful about our sun habits to insure that we are protected from the real risk of skin cancer. Now, thankfully, the cases of skin cancer deaths are less than ever thanks to new screening techniques, early discovery, lots of media publicity, and better treatment methods. But wouldn't it be better to simply not have the cancer in the first place? All over the world incidents of skin cancer are rising, but nowhere as much as in the white skinned sun tan crazed countries of the West. In the USA there were more than one million new cases of skin cancer in 2008 alone! In Australia, for example, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in men in the ages of 15 - 19, and 25 - 54, and in women aged 15 - 34! I will bet that, even with the darker skins on people here in Kuwait, the incidences of skin cancers is going to rise even here as well, based on the sun tanning habits of the young people here, and the lack of safer tanning procedures. Now, you tell me%u2026is it a good thing for young people of these ages to be getting cancer, and all because they want to get a tan??? I think someone has their priorities mixed up!

According to the experts, in order to keep safe in the sun while participating in sun sports and beach activities you need to make sure that you are using at least a product of SPF 15. You can use higher protection, but not lower. And make sure that the product you are using protects from both UVA and UVB rays. The product must be applied everywhere on the body, even the parts that are under your clothing, because the sun can easily get through a white t-shirt, for example, particularly when your clothes are wet. Whenever you get out of the water you will need to reapply the sunscreen. And we aware that the incidence of men having skin cancer is even higher than that of women, so men, don't be "brave"%u2026 always use sunscreen!

Also remember that even when you are in the water, the sun is still getting to you, and can be even stronger when you are in the water than when you are out of it. So, if you enjoy sitting in the water for hours on end, be sure to get out from time to time, to re-apply your sunscreen. Boaters and jet skiers beware also so that you too apply skin protection. Anyone who is out in the sun needs to take care. While dark skinned people are more likely to be able to handle the sun somewhat better than light skinned people (who often burn quickly), still why take unnecessary risks?

Remember! Always use some kind of sun protection, and remember that the best sun protection is staying out of it. So, the best sun protection is shade, good coverage clothing, umbrellas, and making sure that your beach and pool outings are done in the hours before 10 a.m. or in the hours after 4 p.m. You can still have plenty of fun at those times, but it will be done keeping your safety in mind. Skin cancer is no joke, and believe me, you don't want to get it! So, take care, protect yourself, practice safe swimming, beach going, and sea activity habits, and if you must be out in the sun, at least use a safe, full protection sun screen product while you are out.

Photo Credit: tanningbeds.mercola.com

We began talking about sun tanning and the dangers of being in the sun. We also spoke about safe sun practices and about using SPF products in order to help prevent skin cancers. This week we are going to talk about some of the tanning products that are out on the market, particularly because there are some products out there that many authorities don't consider either useful or safe.

There is a newish product out there that is being touted as a safe tanning product. The idea is that you don't have to sit in the sun to become tan. Hmmm. Sounds like indoor tanning on a sun bed? Nope! This is a pill that you are supposed to take and you will simply get tan! Does this sound easy? Well, apparently it sounds better than it is. According to experts, these pills work by putting beta carotene-like colors in your body, which not only don't make you look tanned, but could also be dangerous. Besides that, who wants to walk around looking like an old brownish carrot anyway? The dangers that the experts are worried about are the unknown factors. They are particularly concerned because such colorings were only approved as food colorings, but not to be ingested on their own and in the larger quantities required to give the color changes in the skin. It's worse than that though, as we are warned about yellow crystals that have shown up in people's eyes that can possibly damage eyesight, according to the American Cancer Society website, along with possible liver and skin problems. In fact, these products are said to possibly deposit fatty substances in the blood too, in addition to nausea, itchy skin, and headaches! Better safe than sorry is the cry here, so why don't we just stay away from these so-called sunless tanners?

Sun beds, also called tanning beds that are often found in salons around the world (some people even have them in their homes), have long been considered as dangerous as being out in the sun, if not more so. They give off the same type of rays as the sun, and although the exposure to these rays is supposed to be controlled, often people overdo it, making the tanning parlors often worse than the natural sun. Also because tanning salons can be attended all year long, summer and winter, no matter what the weather, people who use them regularly will often get far more "sun" than they would normally get if they were tanning in the real sun. Some experts now say that present day tanning beds are somewhat safer than their predecessors, in that they are using different rays. The claim is that UVA rays are safer than UVB rays, and that there are minimal UVB rays in modern tanning beds. Others say that, because the time and conditions of tanning in a salon environment can be controlled, it is inherently safer to tan in artificial sun than in the real sun. Well, I suppose if you absolutely MUST be tanned that argument is reasonable, but why not just be whiter? I mean, who cares?

So, what about suntan lotions and sun protection creams themselves? Are they dangerous too? Well, it really depends on what the ingredients are. Many experts have warned about the use of certain ingredients in sun tanning and sun protection products, including oxybenzone and PABA (para-amino benzoic acid), which have both been suspected of increasing the likelihood of certain types of skin cancers, like melanomas (because people using these products are staying in the sun longer, thinking they are protected, when these products apparently have mostly been found to protect against carcinomas more than melanomas). Also, PABA has been reported to be possibly damaging to the DNA, so best to avoid it. And here's an interesting possibility%u2026 researcher suspect that it is oxybenzone that is causing sex changes in fish that have been discovered. It has been suspected that it is causing male fish to turn into female ones! Now, are there any tanned and tough, beach-going, muscle-bound men out there who want to have sex change operations? Maybe this is an inexpensive and less invasive route for you (this is a JOKE, albeit not that funny), but for those of you who like who you are, it's probably best to stay away from those products that contain the dangerous questionable chemicals. Others talk about the dangers to people using clear sunscreens that run the possible risks of having minute chemical particles entering the body through the skin and travelling around wreaking havoc in various organs, including the brain!

Why take unnecessary risks? People, if you are black, enjoy it, and if you are white enjoy it! Why put your life and health in danger for a bronze look that is going to peel off after a while anyway? Who made up this blither about people having to be tan to be sexy and beautiful? It's all relative anyway. And, if you think about it, how beautiful will you be if you have a huge chunk taken out of your face due to skin cancer? Is it worth it? I don't think so! Be safe and not sorry.

Photo Credit: dermaxime.com