Why you should avoid artificial sweeteners

Aspartame, otherwise known as Canderel, Spoonful and Nutrasweet is widely used as a sweetening additive in thousands of foods and drinks. It is 200 times sweeter than natural sugar and is often listed as ingredient E951.

Whilst there are governments, health authorities and medical researchers globally that support the use of aspartame in our food and drink, there is substantial research that shows it to be unsafe and toxic, and 'likely' to be responsible for the global rise in Multiple Sclerosis and Systemic Lupus.

Aspartame was originally discovered in 1965 by accident, and research indicated that it may cause cancer in rats. In 1980, it was reviewed and classed as safe but vital raw data was ignored. Aspartame was approved for use as an additive in 1981.

Upon digestion, it breaks down into chemicals including phenylalanine and methanol (which belongs to the same class of poisons as Cyanide and Arsenic) and then to formaldehyde and formic acid. There is much controversy on the effects that these chemicals have on those that consume aspartame sweetened food. The symptoms of, what is known as, Aspartame Disease include spasms, shooting pains, cramps, numbness in limbs, joint pains, dizziness, vertigo, anxiety, headaches, tinnitus, blurred vision and blindness, and symptoms of Fibromylagia.

In the UK, products which contain aspartame must list the chemical as an ingredient and carry the warning “Contains a source of phenylalanine”. Phenylalanine depletes Serotonin and therefore can cause depression, panic attacks, rage and violence. It is also life threatening to those with Phenylketonuria, which causes problems with brain development.

Worryingly, research shows aspartame is deadly to Diabetics, causes Alzheimer’s disease in women as young as 30, and could even be responsible for Gulf War Syndrome. Given the research and the fact that Monsanto who created and sold aspartame until 2000 (when they sold the brand) are also the largest GM food company, producers of Agent Orange and Round-Up, I would suggest steering very clear of any foods containing this E-number.
have appled for patents to 'own' certain plant species known for millenia to work as traditional health remedies.

Understanding eczema

Eczema, or dermatitis, can be a distressing condition for the sufferer. It causes local inflammation accompanied by scaly, itchy and sometimes cracked, sore skin. It is caused by allergies and is often associated with asthma, hay fever and rhinitis. 

Eczema is commonly caused by plants (and their extractions), fabrics and metals. The most common offenders are nickel (found in jewellery), chromate (found in wet cement), epoxy resins (used as adhesives and paints) and cosmetics. It is cosmetics that are causing more eczema symptoms as products are more likely to contain fragrances, biocides (such as pesticides or antimicrobials), and preservatives and it is these which can cause symptoms where you wouldn’t expect them. For example, the hardeners used in nail varnish can cause eczema on the eyelids, face and neck rather than on the hands, and the dye used to colour hair can cause serious symptoms of eczema on the face, eyelids and ears, but not on the scalp. There are many substances that can cause the symptoms of eczema, ranging from rubber (for producing household gloves), pine extract found in sticking plasters to formaldehyde found in commercial shampoos. It can therefore be hard to pinpoint the cause or source of the eczema. 

It is important to confirm the type of eczema a sufferer has as there is generally no cure, only treatment to control symptoms. There are 5 common types of eczema: 

Atopic eczema 

This form of eczema is thought to be hereditary. If one or both parents suffer with asthma, eczema or hay fever, the chances are their children will become atopic. The itchy rash is particularly noticeable on face and scalp, neck, inside of elbows behind knees and buttocks. 

Contact dermatitis 

There are two types: 
i) Allergic, which develops over a period of time as a result of the immune system reacting against a substance used regularly. The offenders are usually perfume, cosmetics and costume jewellery. 

ii) Irritant dermatitis effects adults on the hands, caused by detergents and chemicals used around the home or workplace. 

Discoid Eczema 

Affects any part of the body, but particularly the lower legs. Cause is unknown but it can start as a result of an insect bite or burn. The eczema patches are round or oval in shape, either extremely itchy or barely noticeable. Although patch testing can be arranged, there is often no specific allergy to be found. 

Seborrhoeic Eczema 

Commonly known as cradle cap in babies, it can affect adults also. It spreads quickly, looks quite distressing, but it is not sore or itchy. Men seem to be more susceptible, effecting mainly the 20-40 year old age group. It looks like dandruff and often spreads from the scalp to the face where it is noticeable around the eyebrows. This type of eczema is often associated with yeast growth. 

Varicose Eczema 

More common in women than men, this type of eczema tends to develop later in life due to poor circulation. It usually effects lower legs and ankles. Symptoms of eczema should be treated. Whilst not a dangerous condition, it can be distressing and sore for the sufferer, and if left untreated it 
can get worse. 

Diagnosis 

You must have it diagnosed by your doctor or dermatologist. If you have atopic eczema, you can find out if you have allergies by having tests for respiratory and food allergies (not to be confused with food intolerances). It will then be a case of taking practical steps to avoid any allergens found. If you have contact or irritant dermatitis, it is important to identify the substance causing the irritation and avoid it. This can be done by avoiding all possible offenders (such as cosmetics, hair products, soap, shampoos, nickel in jewellery, glue, disinfectants) and re-introduce the use of them one by one and check which causes any symptoms. Your doctor can also arrange a patch test to identify the cause. 

Treatment 

I would always recommend complementary and organic treatments above conventional ones. Particularly as steroids and antibiotics do contain substances and ingredients which can end up aggravating the condition further and weaken the body’s natural defences. However, do 
not hesitate to visit your doctor if you are worried or if your condition gets worse. 

Recommended treatment would include the following; 

• If the eczema is inflamed or has blisters, then a warm bath containing sodium bicarbonate is helpful as this helps reduce the body’s acidity levels; 

• Use aromatherapy oils as part of your skincare programme. Chamomile, geranium, lavender and rose are particularly good. If the eczema is dry, you could use products with calendula extracts; 

• Avoid commercial soap, shampoo, shower gels and detergents as these often contain harsh ingredients. Instead use gentle, natural cleansers; 

• Reduce your stress levels. Try meditating with soothing music playing in the background; 

• Do not rub or scratch the eczema as this will only make the condition worse and bleed; 

• Wear clothes made from natural fibres as much as possible and ensure they are not tight fitting; 

• Avoid mineral/petroleum based products as these block pores, and can cause or irritate the condition further; 

• Try homeopathy treatment. Although treatment is generally constitutional, homeopathy can be used while other treatment is being sought or when itching is particularly bad. Try Sulphur 6c, Hepar sulph 6c, Arsenicum 6c, Graphites 6c. Consult a professional homeopathy practitioner for treatment and advice; 

•Ensure that your cleansing and moisturising products and cosmetics are organic or at least natural based. They will help subdue the condition and symptoms and prevent any flare ups. 

Chery Lin Skin Therapy wins in the Green Parent Natural Beauty Awards 2013

I am delighted to announce that my Luxury Rose Night Care AND Hedgerow Beauty Daily Skin Toner have both won in The Green Parent Natural Beauty Awards 2013.

My products were up against tough competition, as hundreds of natural products were tested and graded. The Green Parent team recognise the best in natural and organic skin care and enlisted the help of eco experts, beauty journalists and readers to try the natural products and grade them according to production, packaging, level of organic content, company ethics, ingredients and effectiveness. So this is a great achievement.

The Luxury Rose Night Care is a well loved favourite with customers and has been recognised by the Green Parent for its rejuvenating therapy, suitability for all skin types and organic quality.

The Hedgerow Beauty Daily Skin Toner is a gentle, soothing tonic developed for use on all skin types and conditions. It is part of a unique daily skin care range that has been created using organic plant extracts that were traditionally found in the hedgerows here in the UK.

Chery Lin will be featured in the beauty guide of the next edition of

The Green Parent, published 12 July 2013.

Perhaps those 6 and 4 leafed clovers I found last month did bring me good luck after all.... ;-)

Will a 6 leafed clover bring me luck?

Whilst out walking my dogs early this morning, I came across a patch of clover in bloom. As Gracie, my younger fur baby (!!) lay and rolled in the wet greenery, her head rested near a patch of clover where I spotted a 4 leafed AND a 6 leafed clover! OK, as you can see from the image, it is a little delicate looking and passed it's best, but it clearly has 6 leaves and so I'm hoping it's going to bring me super luck!! :-)

 

Apparently, 4 leafed clovers are rare, about 1 in every 10,000, although I do find them quite frequently. A 6 leafed clover is much rarer and is said to bring better luck than a 4 or 5, in the form of fame and fortune.

 

According to mythology, each leaf of a 3 leafed clover represents hope, faith and love, and the fourth, fifth, sixth etc are for luck.

 

The record for the most leaves (or leaflets, to be more accurate) ever found on a clover is 21! (Although the farmer who discovered this find, has been cross-breeding the plants). …My find is a natural mutation, but (and it may involve lots more dog walking), I'm on a mission!!

Is sugar ageing your body?

The human body is designed to work efficiently on complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, vegetables, pulses and simpler carbohydrates such as fruit. These foods are designed to gradually release their energy and contain all the nutrients the body needs for digestion and metabolism and keeping the digestive system running.

However, we humans enjoy the sweetness of carbohydrates and all forms of sugar whether it is white, brown, syrup or glucose are fast-releasing causing a rapid increase in blood sugar levels. When this sugar is not required by the body it is eventually stored as fat.

Sugar is also very toxic. As an oxidant it damages certain substances such as proteins. The toxic by-product of glucose is known as AGE (advanced glycosylation end products) and damages cells causing them to age faster, and impairs the ability of the body to remove unwanted cholesterol. It also damages collagen and elastin, the protein fibres that keep the skin firm and elastic. This damage results in dull, brittle dry skin leading to wrinkles and sagging. These ageing effects can start from the age of 35, after which they will increase rapidly. 

A high sugar diet can even influence the type of collagen a skin has, a factor in how resistant skin is to ageing. The most common types of collagen in the skin are types I, II and III, with III being the most important and type I being the most fragile. Glycation turns type III into type I causing the skin to lose its suppleness. AGEs also leave your skin more vulnerable to sun damage. 

Diabetics are very susceptible to the damaging effects of sugar as they can suffer from high blood sugar levels for many years before diagnosis and often show signs of premature skin ageing. 

However, all is not lost and with a little work, you can minimise future damage and regain some of your skin's youth if you follow these simple steps:

• Sorry, but you must cut down on sugar and high sugar products. Whilst it is difficult to completely eliminate sugar, eating a nutritional, fresh diet will help keep intake minimal. It is easy to add sugar rich foods to the diet without thinking about it. For example, there are about 10 teaspoons of sugar in a can of coke, which amounts to 160 empty calories.
• Get to know your labels. Sugar can be hidden under aliases such as barley malt, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose or molasses.
• Protect your skin with antioxidant rich moisturisers which include vitamins C and E and green or white tea. Do not expose your skin to strong sunlight.  AGEs occur more significantly in sun exposed skin than in protected skin. 
• Keep your blood sugar levels balanced. This is important if you want to maintain energy levels and weight. When the level of glucose in your blood drops you feel hungry, leading to feelings of tiredness, depression,   headaches and migraines, poor concentration and digestive problems. When the levels are too high the body converts the excess to glycogen or fat, our long term energy reserve. It is becoming more and more common for people to have an impaired ability to keep blood sugar levels even. This will eventually result in fat and lethargy and even diabetes. 
• Eating a wholesome balanced diet helps health and skin as the antioxidants keep sugar from attaching to proteins. Include foods which are high in complex carbohydrates and which release their sugar content gradually.
• Keep alcohol and stimulants such tea, coffee and fizzy drinks to a minimum. These substances stimulate the release of adrenalin that initiates the ’fight or flight’ response. This prepares our body for action by releasing sugar stores and raises blood sugar levels to give muscles and brain a boost of energy. However, we do not have the same physical stresses as our ancestors and our stresses are more likely to be of the emotional or mental variety. The body has to somehow cope with the excess of blood sugar by releasing hormones to take the glucose out of circulation. This vicious circle results in an inability to control blood sugar levels, which can lead to diabetes.

Interview with Jules at CurvaceousInc

Met with the lovely Jules Cardozo-Marsh yesterday for an interview for Curvaceous Magazine. Very nervous, but Jules, a highly regarded make-up artist , put me at ease! Take a look at her work. She can do my face anytime!!

 

Interview to be published in the CurvaceousInc magazine, early May.

Lemon for sparkling skincare

Nothing cleans and bleaches the hands, elbows, heels or neck better than lemon juice. Dilute it in rosewater and a little glycerine for a moisturising cleanser. For really discoloured skin, apply the juice direct after cleansing and leave to dry. Use diluted for a final rinse after shampooing to help keep blonde hair bright and shiny. 

Lemon facts 

The lemon has long been valued as an antiseptic and vitamin C source. In the past, it has been used to treat malaria and typhoid, and as an antidote to meat and fish poisoning. It is well known as a treatment and preventative measure against scurvy and was traditionally taken on long sea voyages and the juice given to sailors. 

Lemons are highly nutritious and provide a superb tonic to the circulatory system. They are helpful when treating sore throats, coughs, colds and influenza and help reduce associated temperatures. 

With their vitamin C content and rich citrus flavonoids (water soluble plant substances which protect vitamin C against oxidation), lemons have excellent antioxidant properties and can assist the healing of wounds, strengthen the walls of the capillaries and blood vessels, and has a hypertensive effect on arteriosclerosis. 

There are many nutritious substances in lemons such as vitamins A and B, potassium, phosphorus, silica, fructose, manganese and copper, all working to help strengthen the immune system, make collagen, keep skin and joints healthy and may even help to prevent cancer. 

Lemon juice is a natural disinfectant and antiseptic, and before modern chemical based cleaners, was used in laundry, glass, household and metal cleaning. 

It is an important skincare ingredient and the juice can be applied direct as an astringent and bactericide.