Friday, October 30, 2009
The Lipstick Controversy Continues.......
What would surprise you most? The fact that lipstick is loaded with lead or that the FDA refuses to do anything about it?
An analysis done by the FDA that was published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science shows that the levels of lead in lipstick are four times higher than anyone first thought. And what is the FDA doing about it? Nothing! The FDA has said there is no concern on their part because lipstick is only ingested incidentally and in very small quantities. I don't know about you, but I apply lipstick many times during the day.
Remember that our skin and especially the lips are extremely absorbent. Biology should have taught you that. Anything that goes on the skin - lotions, soap, moisturizers and chemicals in water - can end up in your body. I would assume that means lipstick too.
None of the industries have evaluated how much lipstick actually gets absorbed into your body, but one thing everyone knows "there is no safe level of lead"!
Lead is a neurotoxin - which means it causes brain damage and nerve cell damage. Studies have shown that it can cause neurodevelopmental deficits in children. Pregnant women should be especially careful about lead exposure, since studies have also shown it can cross the placenta and enter into the fetus, causing developmental problems.
Lead cannot be broken down in the body or eliminated, therefore accumulating over time. Continual exposure to lead will build up into toxic levels at some point.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has no qualms about pointing fingers. Their analysis in 2007 found the worst offenders to be over the cosmetic counter manufacturers.
If you would like to know a great lipstick without lead, please email me at lfriff@q.com and I will give you that information.
Read your labels - we do it for food, why not for our cosmetics and skin care?
An analysis done by the FDA that was published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science shows that the levels of lead in lipstick are four times higher than anyone first thought. And what is the FDA doing about it? Nothing! The FDA has said there is no concern on their part because lipstick is only ingested incidentally and in very small quantities. I don't know about you, but I apply lipstick many times during the day.
Remember that our skin and especially the lips are extremely absorbent. Biology should have taught you that. Anything that goes on the skin - lotions, soap, moisturizers and chemicals in water - can end up in your body. I would assume that means lipstick too.
None of the industries have evaluated how much lipstick actually gets absorbed into your body, but one thing everyone knows "there is no safe level of lead"!
Lead is a neurotoxin - which means it causes brain damage and nerve cell damage. Studies have shown that it can cause neurodevelopmental deficits in children. Pregnant women should be especially careful about lead exposure, since studies have also shown it can cross the placenta and enter into the fetus, causing developmental problems.
Lead cannot be broken down in the body or eliminated, therefore accumulating over time. Continual exposure to lead will build up into toxic levels at some point.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has no qualms about pointing fingers. Their analysis in 2007 found the worst offenders to be over the cosmetic counter manufacturers.
If you would like to know a great lipstick without lead, please email me at lfriff@q.com and I will give you that information.
Read your labels - we do it for food, why not for our cosmetics and skin care?
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Breast Cancer Happens To Men Too!
Breast Cancer is NOT just a disease of women. Over 2000 men are affected with this disease each year and - unfortunately - 25% of the cases will be fatal.
Dr. Samir Kheiri, a hematologist and medical oncologist at Geisinger Medical Center stated that although women are more likely to develop breast cancer, men also have breast tissue that can become cancerous. Patients are usually between the ages of 60 and 70 and men need to be aware of those things that can increase their risk. Exposure to high levels of radiation, excessive alcohol intake, high levels of estrogen all are things that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer.
Most men do not think about breast cancer, but they should be aware of any lumps in their chest, especially those that may develop around the nipple. These should be checked out immediately by their physician. Treatment options are basically the same as for women and may involve removing the breast as well as lymph nodes.
Breast cancer in men is quite rare when compared to women, however, men need to be alert to any changes in their chest area. The death rate in men is much higher proportionately than in women - which could be due to the fact that the breast tissue is subcutaneous in men and tumors are not detected as early.
Individuals in todays "westernized" society are exposed to lots of estrogens that are created from environmental pollutants, from our food sources due to fattening of our cattle, pork and poultry quickly in order to get them to market, and of course from pesticides etc. that are used in raising our fruits and vegetables. Our water supplies are also getting polluted with estrogen from the high levels of birth control pills and hormones that women are prescribed.
Inform yourself and commit to eating a healthy diet.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Dr. Samir Kheiri, a hematologist and medical oncologist at Geisinger Medical Center stated that although women are more likely to develop breast cancer, men also have breast tissue that can become cancerous. Patients are usually between the ages of 60 and 70 and men need to be aware of those things that can increase their risk. Exposure to high levels of radiation, excessive alcohol intake, high levels of estrogen all are things that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer.
Most men do not think about breast cancer, but they should be aware of any lumps in their chest, especially those that may develop around the nipple. These should be checked out immediately by their physician. Treatment options are basically the same as for women and may involve removing the breast as well as lymph nodes.
Breast cancer in men is quite rare when compared to women, however, men need to be alert to any changes in their chest area. The death rate in men is much higher proportionately than in women - which could be due to the fact that the breast tissue is subcutaneous in men and tumors are not detected as early.
Individuals in todays "westernized" society are exposed to lots of estrogens that are created from environmental pollutants, from our food sources due to fattening of our cattle, pork and poultry quickly in order to get them to market, and of course from pesticides etc. that are used in raising our fruits and vegetables. Our water supplies are also getting polluted with estrogen from the high levels of birth control pills and hormones that women are prescribed.
Inform yourself and commit to eating a healthy diet.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Hormone Replacement Therapy may increase risk of death from lung cancer
Hormone Replacement Therapy has been linked throughout the years to a higher risk of breast cancer in women. The Women's Health Initiative findings of the link to breast cancer, blood clots and heart attack caused the lightbulb to come on with many women. Women began searching for safer alternatives to taking the traditional hormone replacement therapies.
Another study recently reported in the Lancet is showing that post-menopausal women who have lung cancer and take hrt - estrogen and progestin - may increase their risk of dying from their lung cancer than those women who do not take the hormone replacement therapy. The eight year study of 16,600 post-menopausal women who were taking the combined therapy of estrogen and progestin were 71 percent more likely to die than those who were taking a placebo.
Experts say the research makes sense as estrogen could increase blood flow to the tumors and also decrease the effectiveness of cancer treatment.
The highest risk of those taking the drugs was in the age range of 69-70. NOTE: The risk of developing lung cancer was not increased due to these drugs. However the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, strokes and heart disease have been shown to increase with the use of estrogen and progestin.
Those individuals who are at high risk of lung cancer should re-think taking hormone replacement therapy drugs. Dr. Apar Kishor Ganti suggested that "these results seriously question whether hormone-replacement therapy has any role in medicine today". "It is difficult to presume that the benefits of routine use of such therapy for menopausal symptoms outweigh the increased risks of mortality".
Lung Cancer is the second-most common cancer in the United States killing about 90,000 men and 70,000 women each year.
Use of bio-identical progesterone has never been linked to cancer in women or men - although the terms progestin and progesterone are often alternated in studies - looking deeper into the studies will show that the "progesterone" is simply synthetic progestin.
Another study recently reported in the Lancet is showing that post-menopausal women who have lung cancer and take hrt - estrogen and progestin - may increase their risk of dying from their lung cancer than those women who do not take the hormone replacement therapy. The eight year study of 16,600 post-menopausal women who were taking the combined therapy of estrogen and progestin were 71 percent more likely to die than those who were taking a placebo.
Experts say the research makes sense as estrogen could increase blood flow to the tumors and also decrease the effectiveness of cancer treatment.
The highest risk of those taking the drugs was in the age range of 69-70. NOTE: The risk of developing lung cancer was not increased due to these drugs. However the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, strokes and heart disease have been shown to increase with the use of estrogen and progestin.
Those individuals who are at high risk of lung cancer should re-think taking hormone replacement therapy drugs. Dr. Apar Kishor Ganti suggested that "these results seriously question whether hormone-replacement therapy has any role in medicine today". "It is difficult to presume that the benefits of routine use of such therapy for menopausal symptoms outweigh the increased risks of mortality".
Lung Cancer is the second-most common cancer in the United States killing about 90,000 men and 70,000 women each year.
Use of bio-identical progesterone has never been linked to cancer in women or men - although the terms progestin and progesterone are often alternated in studies - looking deeper into the studies will show that the "progesterone" is simply synthetic progestin.
