ISSUE #3: June 2009    

Natural Fun in the Sun

You’ve waited all winter long for the sun to arrive and now that it’s here there’s no better time to start perfecting your sun survival skills.

Although the sun helps to produce the all important nutrient Vitamin D, it also contains harmful UVA/UVB rays that need to be avoided. There are ways to protect your skin without having to hide inside, and these natural skin defenders will help ensure fun in the sun.

Selenium - Helps by fighting the free radicals that cause sun damage. Recent studies show that a deficiency in selenium hampers the skin’s ability to prevent damage from UVA rays.

Lutein - Decreases the risk of sunburn. Recent studies showed that 10 mg of lutein daily increased skin hydration, elasticity and skin lipid content. Aloe Vera - Enables the skin to hold moisture. The enzymes and amino acids in aloe vera gel promote healthy cell growth and leave the skin soft and smooth.

Bug Off!

Fight off summer’s pesky little creatures with these DEET-free alternatives or try one of our baby-friendly prepared sprays available in the dispensary.

Natural Insect Repellent - Place 1 bay leaf with a teaspoon of dried eucalyptus, two teaspoons of dried rosemary and four teaspoons of pennyroyal into a jar, add enough oil to cover two inches above the herbs and then seal the jar and put it in a sunny location for two weeks. Drain out the herbs and it’s ready go into your summer survival kit.

Bug Bites - Lavender or tea tree oil dabbed on the bite every 10 minutes will reduce swelling. The homeopathic remedy Apis works on sting-like symptoms or hives and can be applied to the area in a gel form called Apigel.

Our Summer Seminars

Join us for our exciting and informative summer seminars

Healthy Summer Grilling – Let our nutritionists guide you in how to kick-off a healthy BBQ season

Probiotic Power – Learn how these “good bugs” can elevate your health. Sample BioK probiotics and enter to win a BioK sample pack.

Happy Camper – Find out how to survive in the wild, naturally! Our naturopaths will guide you through natural alternatives to some old favourites (sunscreens, insect repellents and camping first aid must haves)

Sunscreen on Your Plate

Research suggests that a low fat Mediterranean-style diet containing olive oil and legumes may help minimize skin damage and wrinkling.

Edible Summer Beauty

Summer fresh fruits are not only tasty and refreshing they also contain hidden beauty benefits by the bushel!

Strawberries - Used traditionally to alleviate sunburn and to humidify the skin, organic strawberries are a summer favourite. One cup of strawberries provides your body with iron, calcium, vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin C, potassium and vitamin B6.

Citrus Fruits – Not only are they refreshing on a hot day, lemons, limes and oranges are packed with antioxidants and vitamins A, C and E. Internally, citrus fruits help decrease free radical damage and can aide in decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A lemon hair rinse will bring out natural sun-kissed highlights. Simply add the juice of a lemon to a cup of warm water, using this as the final rinse after shampooing. Watermelon – Summers more refreshing treat provides your body with vitamins A and C, potassium, calcium, iron and lycopene, one of the most effective antioxidants.

Water, Water Everywhere

Get hydrated! There’s no better time to focus on increasing your water intake than during the summer months. Water makes up 83% of the blood and acts as an important transport system, delivering nutrients to the brain and flushing out toxins. It also helps give your skin that dewy summer glow.

On especially hot days or when playing summer sports you can lose up to a litre of water through sweating. Don’t wait for the signs of dehydration (thirst, fatigue, lightheadedness) to prompt you to rehydrate your body, but stay on top of your water intake by drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day. Tired of plain old water? Try adding citrus fruits, berries, mint leaves, or cucumber slices to spruce up an old favourite! If you’re an athlete consider adding coconut water to replace the electrolytes that you lose through sweating.

Get Grilling!

Fire up the flavour - Add marinades for more flavour and safer grilling. Try adding garlic, ginger, and especially turmeric to your marinades for an extra safeguard against potential cancer causing heterocyclic amines that are created when meats, poultry and fish are cooked at very high temperatures. Friendly Fuel - Switch from charcoal to a gas or electric grill to avoid the potential carcinogenic smoke hazard caused when grilling meats. If you’re using charcoal, avoid lighter fluid or self-lighting packages of charcoal briquettes - both may add toxic residues to food.

On the greener side of the barbecue, you may enjoy more vegetables if you marinate them and cook them on the grill. You don't have to worry about HCAs because they don't form on vegetables.

The contents of this Newsletter is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.