This article started with a trip to the Mall. My niece (8) had asked me for glittery lip-gloss and lotions from Victoria's Secret for her birthday. She knows I don't enjoy shopping for cheap cosmetics but I decided to just go anyways and “get what she asked for”. Since she can now read, I planned to attach a flyer with a list of all the synthetic ingredients I knew I was bound to find in such cheap non-natural cosmetics. But to my surprise, it was worst than I thought...

I compared the ingredients with the list of “Ten Synthetic Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid” by Aubrey Hampton and was surprised to actually find 9 out of the 10. Here is the breakdown plus I did some extra work and attached pictures. This was a great lesson to my niece. I hope this article will help you as well and inspire everyone to search out for unhealthy ingredients.

Learn to read labels, and refuse to settle for half-natural hair and skin care. Buy only organic and all-natural products. Plus there are plenty of wonderful choices available nowadays.

	1. METHYL, PROPYL, BUTYL AND ETHYL PARABEN These are used as inhibitors of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. They have caused many allergic reactions and skin rashes. Studies have shown that they are weakly estrogenic and can be absorbed by the body through the skin. They are widely used even though they are known to be toxic.
	2. DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA), TRIETHANOLAMINE (TEA) These are often used in cosmetics as emulsifiers and/or foaming agents. They can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation and dryness of hair and skin. DEA and TEA are "amines" (ammonia compounds) and can form cancer-causing nitrosamines when they come in contact with nitrates. They are toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time.
	3. DIAZOLIDINYL UREA, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA These are widely used preservatives. The American Academy of Dermatology has found them to be a primary cause of contact dermatitis. Two trade names for these chemicals are Germall II and Germall I15. Neither of the Germall chemicals contains a good anti fungal agent, and they must be combined with other preservatives. Both these chemicals release formaldehyde, which can be toxic.
	4. SODIUM LAURYL/LAURETH SULPHATE This is a cheap, harsh detergent used in shampoos for its cleansing and foam-building properties. Often derived from petroleum, it is frequently disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the phrase "comes from coconuts". It causes eye irritation, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, skin rashes and other allergic reactions.
	5. PETROLATUM Also known as petroleum jelly, this mineral oil derivative is used for its emollient properties in cosmetics. It has no nutrient value for the skin and can interfere with the body's own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dryness and chapping. It often creates the very conditions it claims to alleviate. Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is unbelievably cheap.
	6. PROPYLENE GLYCOL Ideally this is a vegetable glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural. Usually, it is a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant. It has been known to cause allergic reactions, hives and eczema. When you see PEG (polyethylene glycol) of PPG (polypropylene glycol) on labels, beware - these are related synthetics.
	7. PVP/VA COPOLYMER A petroleum derived chemical used in hairsprays, styling aids and other cosmetics. It can be considered toxic, since inhaled particles can damage the lungs of sensitive people.
NOT FOUND IN THIS PRODUCT	8. STEARALKONIUM CHLORIDE A quaternary ammonium compound used in hair conditioners and creams. Developed by the fabric industry as a fabric softener, it is a lot cheaper and easier to use in hair conditioning formulas than proteins or herbals, which are beneficial to the hair. Causes allergic reactions. Toxic.
	9. SYNTHETIC COLOURS Used to make cosmetics "pretty", synthetic colors, along with synthetic hair dyes, should be avoided at all costs. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number. Example: FD&C Red No.6/D&C Green No.6. Many synthetic colors can be carcinogenic. If a cosmetic contains them, don't use it. [I found a handful of synthetic colors like yellows, oranges, reds, green, blues and more.]
	10. SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES The synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since on the label it will simply read "fragrance". Some problems caused by these chemicals include headaches, dizziness, rash, hyper pigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, skin irritation - the list goes on. Advice: Don't buy a cosmetic that has the word "fragrance" on the ingredients label.

References:

"Natural Ingredients Dictionary" by Aubrey Hampton

Images of Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Product

Dr. E. Rand Sutherland is the lead researcher at the pulmonary and critical care division of National Jewish Health in Denver Co. According to Dr. Sutherland, low levels of Vitamin D are associated with more severe asthma, and also relates to how well a patient is going to respond to medication. He thinks that Vitamin D may act as an immune system modifier in a way that relates to asthma.

In a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Dr. Sutherland and his team measured the Vitamin D levels of 54 asthma patients. They also assessed each patient’s level of airway constriction, their overall lung function, and their response to steroidal asthma medication. Patients with less than 30 nanograms per milliliter of Vitamin D in their blood had double the airway constriction when compared to the group with higher Vitamin D levels. Low levels may also be linked to increased bronchial inflammation.

According to Dr. Michael F. Holick, the director of the Vitamin D, Skin and Bone Research Laboratory at the Boston University School of Medicine, the steroidal medications used to treat asthma also increase the destruction of Vitamin D, leading to a viscous cycle of increased asthma.  He says it’s pretty clear that a minimum of 1,400-2,000 IU per day is necessary, and that figure can even double if you are obese. According to Dr. Holick, it is recognized that even 10,000 IU per day does not pose a toxicity risk.

The government has traditionally recommended just 200 IU of Vitamin D per day. But according to The Vitamin D Council, the skin can make about 10,000 IU of Vitamin D just in response to 20-30 minutes of summer sun! So it’s pretty clear that this traditional recommendation is unfounded and can even be detrimental to human health.

Dr. Budwig’s protocol was known to be very effective for asthma. Looking at the modern research, the mechanisms by which her protocol work are becoming clear. Not only does she require you to take sunlight creating more Vitamin D, she also uses her unique preparation of the Omega –3 fatty acids in Flax Oil, which has been shown to also decrease the inflammatory processes related to asthma. There are other, more complex mechanisms that Dr. Budwig describes in depth in her publications,. These are quite extensive and will be covered in another article.

As researchers learn more about the human body, modern medicine is progressively changing its philosophy. Promoting the “proper function” of human biology is proving to be more effective than just “fighting the disease” alone. This “functional approach” is also much safer with little or no side effects. Researchers like Dr. Budwig were pioneers in this field and their great work serves to benefit our health. We must learn from them and take charge of our own health and well-being.

You can now learn Dr. Budwig's entire healing protocol on DVD.

Order it online at: www.BudwigDVDs.com

References            

1. E. Rand Sutherland, et al. Vitamin D Levels, Lung Function, and Steroid Response in Adult Asthma.Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Apr 2010; 181: 699 – 704

2. Okamoto M, et al. Effects of dietary supplementation with n-3 fatty acids compared with n-6 fatty acids on bronchial asthma. Intern Med. 2000 Feb;39(2):107-11.

3. http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

4. http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/635427.html

Disclaimer:These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are based on the work and research of Dr. Johanna Budwig Ph.D.

Always consult your physician before starting any dietary regimen, or any other form of therapy.

Standard cancer treatments often fail and… can actually make things worse. We’ve all heard this for years from proponents of Alternative Medicine, but this time it comes from a very well known Allopathic Doctor. More precisely, Dr. Max Wicha, the founder of The Comprehensive Cancer at The University of Michigan.  Dr. Wicha is also a pioneering researcher in why cancers recur and metastasize to other parts of the body.

In a recent interview with Dr. Wicha, he spoke about why cancers often return aggressively after initial treatments. When these tumor cells are killed by treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, they release substances that react with cancer stem cells (master cells). These pro-inflammatory chemicals connect with the cancer stem cells and can actually activate them.

Many researchers including Dr. Wicha say that these cancer stem cells can remain alive even after the tumor is “eradicated” by treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments do not effectively target these stem cells, which may be responsible for spreading the tumor to other parts of the body. Hibernating cancer cells can also be signaled back into action in the future.

Dr. Wicha sees stem cells as the key to fighting cancer. He also acknowledges the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy and hopes that they can avoid them all together. For him and his research team, there is still much work to be done.

As doctors in Allopathic Medicine continue on their search, more and more health practitioners and doctors are changing their approaches in dealing with degenerative diseases. Their philosophy is shifting away from “fighting disease, ” and toward “promoting health.” Yet even Allopathic doctors like Dr. Wicha acknowledge the harm that often comes with “standard treatments” and they are looking for better ways.

It seems that if you ignore a person’s (lack of) overall health, and focus on altering single bio-mechanism, you are bound to have side effects and/or other illnesses regardless. Side effects often come from blocking or stimulating a certain bio-mechanism with drugs. After all, every bio-mechanism in our bodies seems to have its own unique role in the cycle of life.

It’s this kind respect for nature, and functional biology that motivated people like Dr. Budwig. When you give the body what it needs to function properly, and remove the harmful elements, it restores itself. Her profound understand of biochemistry, pharmacology, and physics gave her a unique insight on how to prevent and heal serious degenerative diseases like cancer, heart diseases, arthritis, and asthma. The protocol that she developed had a documented 90% success rate with a variety of cancers, some even in later stages. She even proved her case in court after being harassed by multiple interest groups from the food and pharmaceutical industries of her time.

Dr. Budwig warned about treatments like chemotherapy for decades. People need to understand that there are many prominent doctors today who also agree with Dr. Budwig regarding the dangers of “standard” treatments. As a chief expert of drugs and fats at The Federal Health Office in Germany, she constantly disapproved of harmful pharmaceutical products, though business interests often got their way.

Dr. Budwig was far ahead of her time and modern science is constantly re-validating her work. Many people from all over the world have been helped by her protocol, and more are realizing that there are non-toxic methods of healing the body. It’s important that we educate ourselves about these issues. More knowledge means better decisions.

You can now learn Dr. Budwig's entire healing protocol on DVD.

Order it online at: www.BudwigDVDs.com

References

1.http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=9360&Section=Disease&source=DHB_010225&key=Body+ContinueReading

2. http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/full/26/17/2795

Disclaimer:These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are based on the work and research of Dr. Johanna Budwig Ph.D.

Always consult your physician before starting any dietary regimen, or any other form of therapy.

Some of the most of vegetables come from the “cruciferous” family. This includes vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. Throughout history, many like Dr. Budwig have talked about the healing properties of these vegetables. Yet scientists are now discovering how and whythese vegetables are so good for your health, especially for your cardiovascular system.

Researchers from the Imperial College in London are researching a chemical found in broccoli and other green leafy vegetables. Sulforaphane,as it is called, naturally occurs in cruciferous vegetables and is being studied for its ability to protect against clogged arteries and heart attacks.

There are thousands of miles of arteries in the body but certain areas clog more easily than others. There are special proteins that protect our blood vessels, but these proteins are not active more vulnerable blood vessels.  This study found that Sulforaphane boosts our natural defense mechanism by “switching on” this protective protein.

Researchers are now looking to see if these vegetables themselves, rather than the purified chemical have the same effect on the body. They will also have to conduct the study with humans, as this particular study was done with mice.

Modern scientists are working to understand the complex mechanisms behind nutritional therapy. Yet, Dr. Budwig was basically conducting “practical” trials of her nutritional therapy by documenting the outcomes of her over 2000 patients in Germany. But unlike many studies that look to “isolate” single mechanisms, Dr. Budwig took the whole body approach in helping her patients heal from disease. Your body is a complex system with many, many parts. All of these parts interact with each other in so many ways that we are just beginning to understand it in all its complexity.

The Budwig Protocol has so many aspects that it may take decades to understand them all. Nevertheless, Dr. Budwig already demonstrated a 90% success rate (verified in court) and many people around the world have been helped by her wonderful healing protocol. We should all learn from Dr. Budwig and benefit from her incredible wealth of knowledge.

You can now learn Dr. Budwig's entire healing protocol on DVD.

Order it online at: www.BudwigDVDs.com

References:

1. http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/AgingHeartsandArteries/chapter04.htm

2. http://atvb.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/short/ATVBAHA.109.193375v1

3. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5833ZZ20090904

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are based on the work and research of Dr. Johanna Budwig Ph.D.

Always consult your physician before starting any dietary regimen, or any other form of therapy.

Experts from The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) are urging families to use healthier alternatives when packing school lunchboxes. Just reducing the amount of processed meat to the equivalent of 3 pieces of bacon per week could reduce the incidence of bowel cancer by 3,700 people in Britain according to experts¹.

But eliminating these foods altogether would be ideal. Even unprocessed meat like beef, lamb, and pork have also been linked to cancer, but studies suggests that processed meats are the worst.

These meats can promote cancer for many possible reasons. Processed meats are often made with various preservatives and other cancer causing chemicals like “N-nitroso” compounds. These chemicals are common in cold cuts, and contribute to increased cancer risk².

But for decades, Dr. Budwig warned about the dangers of these kinds of foods. These meat products are forbidden in The Budwig Diet, and cause much harm to the body. Dr. Budwig was the chief expert at the Office of Food and Drug in Germany. Because of this, she was responsible for overseeing food production, and commercialized meat was one of her biggest contentions. She warned about these constantly.

In her day, many of the commercial meat producers were using “high energy feed” which used margarine to fatten up their livestock. Dr. Budwig found that many of these animals became sick and even died before slaughter. Yet their meat was still sold to the public. Because these animals ate the wrong food, their meat was essentially toxic. But the meat producers continued to use these methods to increase profits.

Even in modern day, we know that most cows are being fed unnaturally. According to a 1997 report by CNN, “Increasingly, American cattle farmers feed their herds chicken manure, which health officials warn could contain dangerous bacteria that ends up in ground meat eaten by humans…³” Cows are meant to eat grass…. not corn, grain, chicken manure, or remnants of other animals. And we still wonder why cancer and other degenerative diseases are so prevalent?

It is also interesting that Dr. Budwig approved the occasional serving of “natural” meats. Here is probably why. “Commercial” meats raised on foods that are unnatural to cows which changes the fatty acid balance in their tissues.  This causes an imbalance of the Omega 3 to 6 ratio in their meat creating beef that is “unnaturally” low on Omega-3’s. Grass fed beef for example is rich in healthy Omega 3’s because much of what they eat is full of these beneficial fatty acids⁴.

Grass fed beef is a growing trend, but processed meats are rarely made with this quality of meat (if at all). So in addition to the cancer causing chemicals that are present, processed meat lacks the Omega-3 fatty acids that help fight inflammation in the body. Pathological inflammation has been linked to cancer⁵, so this is could be another contributor to the link between cancer and processed meats.

Modern research is constantly supporting Dr. Budwig and her work. She was really a scientist that was ahead of her time and now it’s up to us to take charge of our own health.

You can now learn Dr. Budwig's entire healing protocol on DVD.

Order it online at: www.BudwigDVDs.com

References:

1. http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/aug/17/cancer-processed-meat-childrens-lunch  

2. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1583396/Sausage-a-day-can-increase-bowel-cancer-risk.html

3. http://www.cnn.com/US/9708/23/chicken.manure/

4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1994795/

5. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125722082

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are based on the work and research of Dr. Johanna Budwig Ph.D.

Always consult your physician before starting any dietary regimen, or any other form of therapy.

Dr. Budwig is widely considered to be the world’s foremost expert on fats, and how they relate to disease. She was a pioneer in the research and use of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are now getting much attention in the mainstream. Much of Dr. Budwig’s work focused on the role of “bad” fats in metabolic defects at the cellular level.  These metabolic defects are considered by many scientists to be a fundamental cause of cancer ^1,2,3.

From her own extensive research, she found that all of her cancer patients were dangerously deficient in some important substances including lipoproteins and phosphatides. Knowing this, she designed a method of using of the Omega-3 fatty acids in Flax Oil to heal patients suffering from diseases like cancer. She also used these same methods successfully for arthritis, asthma, and heart disease.

With her deep understanding of biochemistry and physics, she knew that eating Flax Oil alone would not be enough to create the healing effects that she was looking for. So she created a method that involves the blending of Flax Oil with the proteins in Quark (or cottage cheese) in order to make it water soluble and easy for the body to absorb.  This is why her diet is often called the “Oil Protein Diet.”

The nutritional therapy developed by Dr. Buwig is extensive and involves other therapies beyond the Oil-Protein mixture. If you would like to learn more about Dr. Budwig, her research, and how to do her nutritional therapy, you can find more in depth resources in her books and DVD here. Her work is far more extensive than a single article can contain.

By using an array of methods that she created, Dr. Budwig was able to heal thousands of patients with disease like cancer, heart disease, and asthma. Yet, because she denounced many food companies for using harmful substances like hydrogenated oils, she was often confronted with political resistance.

Dr. Budwig developed a successful nutrition based therapy that could be done at home for serious degenerative diseases like cancer. Her methods could not be patented and were easy enough for patients to do themselves. This also caused political tension between her and the medical community of the time. Dr. Budwig recorded a 90% success rate for her cancer patients, and having been taken to court many times by the medical and food industry, her evidence was reviewed by the legal system. Dr. Budwig won every case.

Johanna Budwig was far ahead of her time, and her role in history has not yet been solidified. Her work is extensive and this story is not only important for science, but is also important for the people. Most, if not all, degenerative disease can be avoided. More and more doctors are also looking to natural forms of therapy to heal illness. The science behind natural therapies is now being re-discovered every day. It’s time for us learn and take charge of our own health.

You can now learn Dr. Budwig's entire healing protocol on DVD.

Order it online at: www.BudwigDVDs.com

References:

1. Tim J. Schulz, Rene Thierbach, Anja Voigt, Gunnar Drewes, Brun Mietzner, Pablo Steinberg, Andreas F. H. Pfeiffer and Michael Ristow (2006). "Induction of Oxidative Metabolism by Mitochondrial Frataxin Inhibits Cancer Growth: Otto Warburg Revisited". J. Biol. Chem. 281 (2): 977–981. doi:10.1074/jbc.M511064200. PMID 16263703. http://www.jbc.org/cgi/reprint/281/2/977.pdf.

2. http://www.springer.com/biomed/cancer/book/978-0-387-84834-1

3. http://www.molecular-cancer.com/content/1/1/9

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are based on the work and research of Dr. Johanna Budwig Ph.D.

Always consult your physician before starting any dietary regimen, or any other form of therapy.

In a recent study by the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center of the LSU Health Sciences Center, researchers found that the active components in green tea significantly reduced prostate cancer markers in men who consumed it. These markers are related to prostate cancer progression, showing that the compounds in green tea may be helpful in the prevention and treatment of this type of cancer.

There are many beneficial compounds found in green tea, but the researchers in this study focused on a substance known as “Polyphenon E.” Polyphenon E is a trademarked product created by extracting and concentrating the beneficial antioxidants in green tea. This study involved 26 men ranging from 41-72 years of age who were given 4 capsules of Polyphenon E, daily, for an average of 34.5 days. The 4 capsules were roughly equivalent to the antioxidants in 12 cups of green tea.

There are many other researchers from all over the world looking into the use of green tea compounds for cancer treatment and prevention. Researchers like James A. Cardelli, Ph.D., the professor and research director at the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center believes that this green tea substance shows promise for cancer patients. These same researchers are now teaming up with scientists from Columbia University in New York to study these compounds for breast cancer.

Though extensive research is needed for “conclusive” evidence in general, Dr. Budwig had been collecting information for decades based on the treatment outcomes of her many patients. Budwig’s methods included vast amounts of natural, plant-based antioxidants from sources like green tea, as well as vegetable and fruit juices. And her use of natural antioxidants was in addition to her core treatment method, which is the proper application of Flax Oil taken internally and externally.

According her studies, this creates hugley beneficial effects for the body, especially for cellular respiration, which is closely related to diseases like cancer. The many benefits she describes are too vast to discuss in this article. You can find more detailed information here.

New information is being released everyday about the role of diet and healthy lifestyle in degenerative diseases like cancer. And many of these studies are directly related to Dr. Budwig’s Oil-Protein Diet and her remarkable scientific works. More and more scientists are re-discovering the natural substances that heal and prevent (often serious) diseases. Luckily for us, these healing substances are widely available and can easily be incorporated into our daily lives. So take charge.... and live healthy : )

You can now learn Dr. Budwig's entire healing protocol on DVD.

Order it online at: www.BudwigDVDs.com

References:

1. "Tea Polyphenols Decrease Serum Levels of Prostate-Specific Antigen, Hepatocyte Growth Factor, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Prostate Cancer Patients and Inhibit Production of Hepatocyte Growth Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor In vitro" Jerry McLarty, Rebecca L.H. Bigelow, Mylinh Smith, Don Elmajian, Murali Ankem and James A. Cardelli Cancer Prevention Research, 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-08-0167

2. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154722.php

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are based on the work and research of Dr. Johanna Budwig Ph.D.

Always consult your physician before starting any dietary regimen, or any other form of therapy.