It's Pretty Scientific ... You Can Be Pretty, Scientifically!

When I came up with the idea, some eight years ago, that raw foods help make us beautiful, many thought I was stretching things more than a bit. Science has now come to the rescue--not that I ever really thought I needed rescuing. Recent findings published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior have shown that you can literally "eat your beauty food." The study, by Ian D. Stephen, Vinet Coetzee, and David I. Perrett, reveals that eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables actually makes you look better and gives your skin a color and glow reminiscent of a healthy tan.

If you've read my first book Your Right to Be Beautiful you know I've been touting the beautifying properties of fruits and vegetables for years. What a delight that science is finally proving what raw food aficionados have long since discovered for themselves. Sometimes, of course, we raw foods experimenters have made that discovery the hard way. Ever encountered someone who's "overdosed" on carrot juice for a while? That slight orange tint to their skin is its own proof that not only do the nutrients in food affect your looks, but so do the very colors of those foods!

I'm excited by the study. And it gives pause for reflection on the relationship between science and the raw foods movement. On the one hand, mainstream science so often seems embarrassingly behind. In this case they are just now catching up with us on the nutrition-beauty connection that I and others have been writing about for years. On the other hand, science takes time. It's an exacting, difficult, often expensive business to conceive an experiment, to conduct it correctly, and interpret the statistics soundly. So let's give science, on this occasion, a nod of understanding and a big thumbs-up for it bringing still more substance and rigor to the nutrition-beauty connection. Continue
reading: Food for Beauty.

What's Wrong with Conventional Toothpaste?

One of the most important things you can do for your overall dental health is to stop using toothpaste off drugstore and supermarket shelves. Commercials and popular culture condition us to associate its refreshing flavor and sudsy action with cleanliness and oral hygiene. But the truth is: Conventional toothpaste just doesn't belong in a healthy person's toiletry kit.

Why wouldn't I consider using it again?  Regular store-bought toothpastes contain a soup of damaging chemicals. Want proof? Start by reading the warning label on the back of your toothpaste tube. Swallowing toothpaste, especially fluoridated brands, can lead to diarrhea and nausea. Toothpaste must be kept away from children under six, and if you ingest an amount greater than needed for brushing, it's time to call either a physician or the Poison Control Center. 

Question: If it's dangerous to swallow it, does it have any business being in your mouth?

To read more about harmful ingredients of store bought toothpastes, click here. 

So if conventional toothpaste is bad for you, is there a better option? In my ebook 100 Days to 100% Raw, one of the first things I recommend to those transitioning to the raw food lifestyle is to start brushing with a mixture of sea salt and a pure, natural soap. People who have preserved their healthy teeth into their advanced years swear by this recipe. Those who begin with compromised teeth, as I did, may find this combination somewhat harsh. Struggling with my own tooth and gum sensitivity, I started to develop my own formula.

The result: Bentonite Oral Balm with White Oak Bark and Wheatgrass was born. It has the consistency of nut butter, a natural light green color, a natural mint aroma, and a pleasant herbal taste.

Bentonite clay with white oak bark and wheatgrass extract is a winning combination to leave your mouth fresh, clean and healthy. The difference is so remarkable; I wouldn't be surprised if you'd never want to use conventional white (silica) toothpaste again.
 
Click here to learn more about the ingredients that make up our Oral Balm.