6 Beauty And Health Secrets Of The Pomagranate

I've been on a total health kick recently, trying to cut out processed foods - which is a huge accomplishment for a foodie and former junk food addict like myself. From healthy, beautiful skin to lower stress levels, the pomegranate is a valuable resource in helping jumpstart your complexion and your mood. Dr. Murad, M.D., FAAD, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA and author of The Water Secret: The Cellular Breakthrough to Look and Feel 10 Years Younger, has shared six ways pomegranates can help your skin look younger and your body feel healthier. It will have you wanting pomegranates for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

1. Build Youth Back into Your Skin
Summer berries aren’t the only way to get your antioxidant fix. The pomegranate, a winter fruit, has powerful antioxidants that assist in the cellular renewal process and help cells stay plump with water. It also boosts anti-aging agents, helping to maintain skin’s collagen levels, and fights oxidative stress that ages us internally and externally. You can eat pomegranate to reap the benefits but also look for topical products that contain Pomegranate Extract to help fight free radical damage and promote overall skin health.

2. Decrease Inflammation
Winter weather is known to inflict a mild inflammatory reaction in exposed skin, like the face and hands. Studies have shown that Pomegranate Extract significantly reduces the activity of proteins that cause inflammation. It also reduces the production of pro-inflammatory compounds produced by cells isolated from cartilage.


3. Increase Your Oxygen Intake
Exercise is great way to increase oxygen flow. However, the cold winter weather can make it challenging to get daily exercise. Research shows that eating organic pomegranate seeds and drinking pure pomegranate juice can increase oxygen levels to the heart and skin cells, making the skin look fresh and smooth--without having to hit the gym!




4. Minimize Cultural Stress
A study found that having pomegranate juice every day resulted in lower stress hormones and a reduction in blood pressure, which leads to healthier, happier skin. Volunteers in the study reported feeling less distressed and more enthusiastic in their general well-being after consuming pomegranate juice.

5. Boost Your Natural SPF
Many people think that sun damage is only prevalent during summer months, yet the sun’s harmful UV rays can damage skin even through overcast weather. One of the most important foods to combat sun damage is pomegranate, which contain polyphenols, like ellagic acid. Murad’s clinical trials show roughly a 25% improvement in SPF when a pomegranate extract supplement is added to a diet because it boosts natural sunscreen levels. If topical sunscreen also contains pomegranate extract, there is an additional improvement in SPF by 20%. Studies have also shown the application of pomegranate to the skin minimizes the risk of developing skin cancer.


6. Help Banish Breast Cancer
Murad recently partnered with City of Hope to help raise funds for breast and women’s cancers research, education and treatment. So it only makes sense that the internationally acclaimed hospital would find the pomegranate to be as amazing of a superfruit as Murad did. City of Hope researchers identified six chemicals in the pomegranate that suppress aromatase — a substance in the body that helps produce estrogen. About 70 percent of breast cancers need estrogen to grow, so pomegranate is a prime candidate as a breast-cancer-blocking super food. Other scientists have also detected two substances in the fruit with the potential to fight both colon cancer and diabetes.

Oh, and in case you want to do more then just eat pomegranates, Dr. Murad also has a whole pomegranate skincare line. 

Article: Most Dangerous Cosmetics

I got interested in reading up on Sodium Laureth Sulfate free shampoo's seeing as I truly have noticed my hair is a bit thinner then before. I stumbled across a bunch of other usefull info and thought it way too important not to share since this is a beauty blog too.

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Most Americans use beauty products or cosmetics in form or another but few stop to consider what hidden dangers may lurk within those pretty glass bottles with the colorful advertising. Many cosmetic products are swimming with chemicals that have the potential to cause health problems ranging from allergies to cancer. In order to protect your health, it may be helpful to know which beauty products have the potential to be the most damaging:

Nail Polish

Nail polishes may look harmless, but lurking within those beautiful colors is a toxic chemical known as DBP [...] because DBP has been shown to cause birth defects in mice. This substance has already been banned in Europe and some of the cosmetic companies within the U.S. are taking steps to remove this potentially dangerous chemical. At the very least, use of nail polishes containing DBP should be avoided during pregnancy.

Sunscreens

[...] use of sunscreens may not be so healthy for your cells. Several problems exist relating to the use of sunscreens. Most sunscreens contain chemicals such as PABA and benzophenones that are known to generate free radicals.
As you may already know, free radicals have been shown to cause cellular DNA damage and potentially increase the risk of certain chronic diseases including cancer. In addition, some ingredients found in sunscreens have estrogen like effects on the body which can potentially increase the risk of breast cancer, uterine cancer, fertility problems in men, as well as contribute to a wide range of other health problems.

Body Powders

[...] Talc is a substance that's similar in structure to asbestos which is a known human carcinogen. Past studies have shown that women who talcum powder in the genital area increase their risk of ovarian cancer by up to sixty percent. [...] Talc has been shown to cause tumors in animals when inhaled.

Dark Hair Dyes

This has been an area of controversy with some studies showing an association of use of hair dyes with an increased cancer risk and others showing weak or no association. The most recent studies show that use of dark hair dyes, but not light ones, may increase their risk of developing a certain type of lymphoma. Nevertheless, dark hair dyes contain a variety of chemicals that are suspected carcinogens.
For some of these cosmetics and beauty products, you may be able to form more healthy alternatives. There are sunscreens on the market that use zinc oxide as the active ingredient which presents less of a health hazard than PABA. Henna may be a good alternative to hair dye. Be sure to read labels carefully and make sure you understand what you're putting on your skin. It could save your life.

Be pending.. I will be doing more research on better alternatives and which products don't contain such ingredients.
As far as nail polishes, I checked Sally Hansen and it doesn't seem to contain the ingredient DBP. Since it's been banned in Europe I doubt there is too much concern. Just look out for DBP and/or phthalate in the ingredients if you want to be careful.