Is Sunscreen the New Margarine?

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From Your Nutritional Education Site

1. Talking to Loved Ones About Drugs Saves Lives
2. Are You Peeing Out Your Vitamins?
3. Camel Milk Versus Alternative Milks
4. Is Sunscreen the New Margarine?

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Talking to Loved Ones About Drugs Saves Lives

Though it receives little recognition or public attention, drug abuse prevention efforts should be focused on and expanded, as such programs halt drug addiction before it even occurs. Further, it is far more cost-effective to prevent people from ever becoming drug addicts than it is to treat them once they’re addicted.

However, stigmas and stereotypes still prevent many Americans from openly discussing drugs, and prevention only has broad workability when everyone participates in it. With that in mind, prevention cannot just be a public health policy initiative. It has to be an American initiative.

Why Prevention Works
Particularly for adolescents and young adults, peer pressure is still widely believed to be one of the main reasons why people start using drugs. The Mayo Clinic cited peer pressure and family beliefs about drugs as the leading environmental stimuli incentivizing young people to experiment with mind-altering substances.

Peer pressure is a complicated social phenomenon, but it can be summarized as individuals (usually young people) being convinced to do something they know is not within their self-interest. Ultimately, the inner voice telling them to say no loses out.

But why does peer pressure win out over that inner voice? When a young person does not have concrete data and an informed opinion about drugs to back up their inner voice, peer pressure becomes stronger than the inner voice.

This is where prevention can make all the difference. A large body of scholarly work shows that young people who are informed of the truth about drugs, the effects of drugs, the short and long-term harm, the legal implications, the physical ramifications, and the addiction risk; such individuals are statically far less likely to succumb to peer pressure and use drugs.

The goal of prevention is to sufficiently educate people about drugs, to essentially empower that inner voice with factual data and information about drugs. When people understand the very real risks attendant with drug use, they’re far less likely to experiment with such substances. For example, surveys of young people who receive information about the harmful effects of drugs show that about half of participants say the information makes them want to “completely” avoid drugs. About one-third say the information “somewhat” makes them want to avoid drugs.

Focusing on Prevention Is a Worthwhile Financial Investment

Prevention does not just make sense from a health-of-the-society perspective. Prevention is also a wise financial investment. Every dollar invested in prevention saves several dollars later on down the line that otherwise would have been spent on the fallout from drug abuse, i.e., medical costs, criminal justice expenses, treatment costs, collateral damage, legal fees, etc.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has extensively researched the efficacy of education-based prevention programs, particularly those implemented in schools. One of their research papers states, “If effective prevention programs were implemented nationwide, substance abuse initiation would decline for 1.5 million youth and be delayed for 2 years on average. It has been well established that a delay in onset reduces subsequent problems later in life.”

“The average effective school-based program in 2002 costs $220 per pupil including materials and teacher training, and these programs could save an estimated $18 per $1 invested if implemented nationwide.”
Programs which are effective in reducing youth substance abuse are worthwhile. Further, SAMHSA researchers also showed that universally implemented school-based drug prevention/education programs would save taxpayers money by preventing the costs attendant with widespread youth drug abuse. Again quoting the research, “The average effective school-based program in 2002 costs $220 per pupil including materials and teacher training, and these programs could save an estimated $18 per $1 invested if implemented nationwide.”

Another body of research, compiled by the Community Prevention Initiative, found that 16% of federal government healthcare-related expenditures go to addressing the “…burden of substance abuse and addiction.” Further, for every dollar spent on managing the consequences of addiction, only 1.9 cents are spent on preventing and treating drug abuse. Alarmingly, of that 1.9 cents, less than half of one cent is spent on prevention efforts.

In short, government spending (at least on the federal level) overwhelmingly goes to damage control. That includes addressing the fallout and harm from millions of Americans addicted to drugs (emergency room visits, long-term healthcare costs, missed work, collateral damage from accidents, law enforcement costs, etc.).

Meanwhile, that same body of research indicated that every dollar spent on prevention efforts results in an average of $10 in long-term savings. When the American taxpayer invests in making sure people know why they shouldn’t use drugs, the long-term savings of people who are then not using drugs is 10x the initial investment.

Experimenting with Drugs Is Extremely Dangerous.
Prevention makes sense in that it informs and educates Americans, providing them with the information they need to understand why they should avoid using drugs and alcohol. Further, prevention is a low-cost approach and an investment all in one, as broad, nationwide prevention efforts create a population that does not incur drug-related healthcare and criminal justice costs later on.

In a letter encouraging support for drug prevention and education, Dr. Nora Volkow summarized prevention with these words, “Communities, schools, and healthcare systems already have scientifically well-supported tools at their disposal to help prevent substance use and other related mental illnesses and risk behaviors in adolescence, but sadly they are seldom implemented. Even if an intervention can be shown in a trial to produce benefits, it cannot be expected to make a positive impact if it is not easily scaled up in a variety of real-world settings adaptable to the needs of different communities.…. [However] when policymakers and community leaders can translate the human benefits of effective treatment and prevention measures into some quantifiable return on that investment, it can be a lever to shift public health policies.” Those words provide an excellent summary of the importance of prevention.

The goal must be to create nationwide prevention programs to help educate the American public on the risk of drugs because prevention programs only achieve maximum efficacy when implemented on a broad scale. That’s why every American has to confront the sometimes difficult-to-talk-about subject of drugs, and have real conversations with their loved ones about drugs. Our quality of life, our lifespan, and the very future of our society depend on our ability to empower our younger population with the tools to say no to drugs and the knowledge to understand why they would want to say no.

Sources:

MayoClinic. “Drug addiction (substance use disorder).” Mayo Clinic, 2022. mayoclinic.org
NIDA. “Preventing Drug Misuse and Addiction: The Best Strategy.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2020. nida.nih.gov
SAMHSA. “Substance Abuse Prevention Dollars and Cents: A Cost-Benefit Analysis.” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2008. samhsa.gov
CPI. “The Power of Substance Abuse Prevention: Why Invest in Prevention.” Community Prevention Initiative, 2011. ca-cpi.org
NIDA. “Investing in Prevention Makes Good Financial Sense.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2022. nida.nih.gov
Addiction Prevention Addiction: How To Talk college talks

Are You Peeing Out Your Vitamins?

The technology of capsule and tablet manufacturing has grown and evolved; considerably more goes into making a good multi-vitamin capsule or tablet than simply compressing ingredients in a machine.

For example, name-brand and all reputable supplement manufacturers test and re-test their products for acceptable dissolution times under stomach-like conditions.

Then there's the old wives' tale about the worthlessness of vitamins because "they just make expensive urine" or "you just pee them out" or other variations on the theme.

It's not hard to see where this one came from. Anytime you take a multi-vitamin or a B complex, you're going to get some vitamin B2 (riboflavin) in the multi-vitamin. B2 markedly changes the color of urine, usually making it much yellower.

Thus, when someone visits the bathroom an hour or so after taking their supplement, it's easy to see why they might conclude that their vitamins have been wasted and have not been absorbed.

But neither is the case. Vitamins from supplements are absorbed the same way as vitamins from food; they have the same fate. No vitamin, whether from food or supplements, can go directly from the stomach to the bladder.

The only way vitamins can change the appearance of urine is if they have been filtered from the bloodstream by the kidneys. The only way that can occur, is if the supplement has been absorbed from the digestive tract, and the only way that can occur is if the supplement breaks down easily.

So, contrary to the myth, when you see color changes in your urine associated with your supplement, it's not evidence of it being wasted, it's confirmation that it's been broken down, absorbed and made available to body tissues

One final point about absorption; faster isn't necessarily better. Many people spend the extra money for liquid supplements based on a belief that they will absorb faster than capsules or tablets.

They might, but the time difference between complete absorption of liquids versus other forms, 20-30 minutes, does not amount to a noticeable advantage or a nutritional advantage with most supplements.

In fact, where higher potencies are concerned, slower absorption may be preferable to fast, sudden absorption. This is because there are limits to how fast and how much of a given nutrient can be absorbed per unit of time. When you overwhelm these absorption pathways, you do waste nutrients.

Sincerely,

Robyn Held, Founder, Real Health Products

Camel Milk Versus Alternative Milks

Supermarket shelves are packed with many kinds of “milk” for those of us who are lactose intolerant, have dairy allergies, or just prefer to drink something other than cow’s milk. Camel milk is a newer addition to the list of milks now available in the US.

Camel milk is being hailed as a new superfood due to its unique, nutrient-dense properties. How do other milks stack up?

Lactose intolerance and dairy allergies

If you are one of the many Americans who have trouble digesting the sugar (lactose) in cow’s milk, camel milk may be just the ticket. Camel milk contains less lactose than cow’s milk and it is usually well tolerated by lactose intolerant people. In addition, it doesn’t contain beta-lactoglobulin – one of the proteins found in cow’s milk that causes allergic reactions. Camel’s milk contains a different beta-casein to cow’s milk. A study conducted at the Ben Gurion University in Israel found that camel milk reduced children’s allergic reactions to food when other conventional treatments had failed to do so.

100% natural versus additives

Commercial soy and nut milks don’t have beta casein or lactose, but you should read the labels carefully. Most of them have additives to thicken them so they seem more like a “milk”. Three of the most common additives in nut milks are guar gum (a binding and thickening agent), gellan gum and carrageenan, which is known to be extremely inflammatory. Some have added sugar. Soy milk often contains carrageenan and vegetable oils.

Camel milk is 100% real milk without any additives.

Fat

Your body needs fats to produce energy and support cell growth. They also help your body absorb some nutrients and produce important hormones. But keep a check on what kind of fat and how much of it you consume.

Whole camel milk contains 50 percent less fat than cow’s milk. So, you can get that rich, creamy taste without worrying about the fat content.

Micronutrients

Micronutrients are often referred to as vitamins and minerals. They are all essential for a healthy body. You have to get them from your food because your body doesn’t make them, with the exception of Vitamin D.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a vital nutrient necessary for the growth, development and repair of all body tissues. It's involved in many body functions, including formation of collagen, absorption of iron, the immune system, wound healing, and the maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.

Almond milk has no Vitamin C at all. Cow’s milk has about one milligram. Camel milk has 3 to 5 times more Vitamin C than cow’s milk.

Camel milk is rich in micronutrients like calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium.

Minerals

Your body needs minerals for a lot of different functions: Calcium for bones and teeth as well as muscle function and blood vessel contraction. Magnesium helps with hundreds of enzyme reactions, including regulation of blood pressure. Sodium is an electrolyte that helps keep your fluid balance correct and potassium is another electrolyte that maintains fluid status in cells and helps with nerve transmission and muscle function.

Cow’s milk has calcium, copper, zinc, sodium, magnesium and iron. Camel milk is rich in micronutrients like calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium.

Almond milk has calcium, magnesium and potassium. Some commercial almond milks have added nutrients to make it more like cow’s milk.

So, if you are looking for a natural, healthy milk that is a real milk without the ingredients that cause lactose intolerance and dairy allergies, try camel milk. It certainly seems to live up to the name superfood.

10% OFF CAMELICIOUS
USE THE DISCOUNT CODE 10OFF AT CHECKOUT

Go to Camel Milk for more information and to Order

Nutra Wellness, LLC or Camelicious do not make any medical claims. All of the information provided is for general education purposes only and is not intended or implied to claim that camel milk could or should be used to treat any ailments or diseases.

Camelicious is a registered trademark of Emirates Industry for Camel Milk & Products (EICMP)

Is Sunscreen the New Margarine? by Dr. Martin (martinclinic.com

Now that it's summer, let's talk about the #1 most widely held myth by people and doctors. Sunscreen prevents skin cancer.

You may think I'm crazy for saying that but the research backs me up.

Here's a systematic review and meta-analysis (the gold standard of studies). "Use of sunscreen and risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer"

Here's the conclusion:

This systematic review DOES NOT CONFIRM the expected benefits of sunscreen against skin cancer in the general population.

It seems that "Sunscreen is the new margarine."

When margarine was first introduced Doctors, dietitians, and experts were in love with it. But margarine is made with crappy seed oils and is nothing more than a chemical soup. I don't understand how people still use margarine — but millions do because it's low fat.

Sunscreen is the same. Most sunscreens are laced with chemicals that are hormone disruptors and damage coral reefs.

Your skin is your LARGEST ORGAN.

Like all other organs your skin is directly affected by diet and lifestyle. The truth is you NEED the sun. Your skin NEEDS the sun. In fact, if you want to live longer then you NEED the sun.

Here's what researchers from a 2016 study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine said "Avoidance of sun exposure is a risk factor of a similar magnitude as smoking, in terms of life expectancy."

"Public health" went HARD after smoking. It seems that Public Health has created a new form of smoking by telling people to fear the sun. Even the American Academy of Dermatology has gone full "sun is scary."

Here's a statement from their website: "You need to protect your skin from the sun every day, even when it's cloudy," They're acting like we weren't made to live in the sun.

What really gets my blood boiling is that there is an overwhelming amount of research showing how good the sun is for us. There are too many benefits to list all the benefits, but here are a few you may not know:

The sun regulates your gut. There's a lot of research showing how important the sun is for your microbiome. The microbiome is a term used to describe the collection of tiny living things inside and on our bodies that are too small to see with the naked eye.

As you know, Probiotics are critical to your microbiome. But don't downplay the effect sun exposure has as well.

Also, get your kids out in the sun to prevent IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and keep their Gut Healthy.

Studies show: "The analyses presented here show that a modest increase in recent sun exposure was associated with a reduced risk of pediatric IBD." Men and Women who avoid the sun have higher risks of heart problems, autoimmune diseases, and diabetes.

Benefits of Sun Exposure beyond Vitamin D:

'There is growing observational and experimental evidence that regular exposure to sunlight contributes to the prevention of colon-, breast-, prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes.'

Even though vitamin D can help all those, the sun increases nitric Oxide, melatonin, and serotonin. All added benefits of the sun.

The bottom line is:

Dermatologists say, "Don't go outside; you might die"…

But, For more than 50 years…Studies suggest

REGULAR sun exposure is associated with SUBSTANTIAL decreases in death rates from certain cancers and a decrease in overall cancer death rates. '

Don't be scared of the sun. But, don't burn. There's a huge difference between enjoying the sun and getting sunburned.

See Summer Health for more suggestions.

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Sidebar:

Nerve Damage - Why R-Alpha Lipoic and Acetyl L-Carnitine?

If you have nerve damage, R-Alpha lipoic acid and acetyl L-carnitine are two key supplements that you should add to your daily routine.

Evidence indicates that alpha lipoic acid has an ability to kill free-radicals which may help provide added nutritional support to people who have nerve damage in the arms and legs, such as:

- pain
- burning
- itching
- tingling
- numbness

Alpha lipioc acid comes in two forms. R and S. Alpha lipoic acid is a combination of these two forms. Most supplements have alpha lipoic acid with both forms, not just the R form.

The R form of alpha lipoic acid is the form normally found in the body. Studies indicate the R-alpha lipoic acid form appears to be better absorbed than the combination of R and S alpha lipoic acid.

Additionally, some small preliminary studies suggest acetyl L-carnitine may help provide nutritional support to people with pain and who want to improve feeling in affected nerves. It is also possible that acetyl L-carnitine can help nerves regenerate.

The Nerve & Energy Booster is a nutritional supplement which contains acetyl L-carnitine and R-alpha lipoic acid (the better, more absorbable form of R-alpha lipoic acid).

Find out more and order the Nerve & Energy Booster

Or you can call us at (888) 758-5590 or (818) 252-1038

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