Now, a new study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology has found that numerous factors such as:

• Blood levels of Vitamin D and
• Total Cholesterol Levels,

may influence a person’s ability to produce vitamin D naturally, after exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Normally, vitamin D is produced by the body, using sunlight. Vitamin D can also be absorbed from dietary sources such as oily fish, fortified milk, cereals and of course from supplements.  As such, low vitamin D can be caused by insufficient exposure to sunlight, insufficient eating of vitamin D rich foods and mal-absorption, (you can also have lower levels of vitamin D if you are taking certain medications or suffering with kidney or liver disease).

The New Study

So, this latest study on vitamin D looked at the relevance of skin pigmentation, total cholesterol and baseline blood levels of vitamin D for produce additional vitamin D after UVB exposure.

182 participants had their backs and chests exposed to UVB sunlight on 4 occasions each several days apart, and each exposure was equivalent to approximately 30 minutes spent in natural sunshine, at peak time on a clear, summer’s day in Denmark.

The results demonstrated the following:

• 67% of participants were considered vitamin D insufficient and 18% were considered vitamin D deficient after having their baseline vitamin D levels screened.

• People who ate fish at least once a week had higher baseline vitamin D levels

• Researchers found that in a group of 50 participants there was significantly higher vitamin D production after UVB exposure in those with low baseline vitamin D levels compared to those with a higher baseline level.

• Skin pigmentation did not appear to significantly affect a person’s ability to produce vitamin D after UVB exposure.

• An association was found between total cholesterol levels and vitamin D production to the extent that, low cholesterol levels may actually hinder vitamin D production.

At Modern Herbals we have Vitamin D3 supplements which help promote healthy bone growth similar to the vitamin D from fortified milk.

(J Invest Dermatol 2010;130: 546–53) Jane Hart, MD Copyright © 2013 Aisle7. All rights reserved. Aisle7.com

The big things to avoid in your hair care products are parabens as they can be especially hard on your hair and your body in general. Instead you want to be using products which contain botanicals, oils and vitamins to help condition and strengthen your head of hair.

Some great supplements for strengthening hair are Biotin, B-complex vitamins, co-enzyme Q10, Hyaluronic acid and vitamins C and E.

To keep your hair in good general health you want to be looking at products containing things like: aloe, almond oil, chamomile, ginger, jojoba oil, lavender, rosemary, peppermint, green tea, sea buckthorn, sea algae, kelp and tea tree oil.

Finally, good everyday hair care ingredients are coca butter, fruits, honey mud, clay hair masks and porridge.

With those ingredients in mind, here are the products we have from Modern Herbals to satisfy some of your hair care needs…

Olive and Avocado Deep Condition Masque – It contains fruit as the title suggests and it is also paraben free and is rich in vitamins A, D and E.

And of course we also have our new Seven Wonders Moroccan Argan Oil range which is completely paraben free and rich in argan oil for hydration and nourishment.

Reference: Aisle7.com

The study invited 16 people to take part and they all had either type 1 or type 2 skin on the Fitzpatrick photo-typing scale. Type 1 skin in characterized as burning easily as never tanning whereas type 2 skin is categorized as burning easily and tanning minimally. The study aimed to examine whether green tea nutrients known specifically as catechins, are absorbed into the body and the skin and more importantly whether these catechins then help protect against sun damage.

The study was completed by 14 of the original 16 participants and this was the procedure:

1. A daily supplement containing 540mg of green tea catechins was taken along with 50mg of vitamin C for 12 weeks.
2. A section of each individual’s skin was exposed to UV radiation at the beginning of the study before they began taking the supplements, to an extent that was capable of causing sunburn.
3. After 12 weeks this exposure to UV radiation was repeated.
4. Tissue samples of the UV exposed skin and non UV exposed skins were collected for comparison.

The Results

When compared against the skin samples taken before supplementation began, the samples collected after showed measureable levels of green tea catechins and demonstrated significantly lower levels of skin inflammation after UV radiation exposure.

The Conclusions

The conclusions drawn from this study are that green tea nutrient do appear to be absorbed into the skin specifically and do have a positive effect on the skins reaction to sun damage. With only 14 participants completing the study the sample is incredibly small, and it did not specifically address concerns of sunburn but nevertheless it can be concluded that green tea catechins do reduce inflammation which is one marker of sun damage.

The Prefect Green Tea

1. Drink 3 a day. One cup of green tea contains approximately 200mg of catechins so to achieve a similar amount of catechins as the participants in the study you need to be drinking 3 cups.
2. If your brew tastes a tad bitter then try brewing it at a temperature slightly less than boiling.
3. Steep the tea for between 2 and 4 minutes to really maximise on the amount of catechins making their way into your brew. Squeeze the teabag too!
4. Add citrus and avoid milk to help your body best use the healthy nutrients in your brew. Milk is a no for as it may inhibit the absorption of catechins.

(Br J Nutr 2013; doi:10.1017/S0007114512006071), Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RD, 2013 Aisle 7 Aisle7.com

Modern Herbals is the only UK distributor of the SIBU beauty range, which contains sea buckthorn a berry that grows wild at source in Tibet. Sea Buckthorn berries are rich in Omega 7 essential fatty acid and it is this property  that makes the SIBU beauty range so effective at creating healthy looking, beautiful skin.

Omega 7 essential fatty acid is important for boosting the production of collagen and is scientifically proven to nourish skin, hair and nail from the inside, as well as nourishing the inner mucus membranes meaning SIBU Beauty can help replenish and reduce problems like dry eyes.  In fact, sea buckthorn berries have been revered by the Tibetan people for their life-giving health properties for many generations.

Right now at Modern Herbals we have 50% off the SIBU Beauty Cellular Support Supplement.

It contains a sea buckthorn antioxidant and omega 7 complexes which have been harvested exclusively through fair trade agreements with local harvesters in Tibet and it’s also free from dairy, wheat, gluten, sodium, yeast and preservatives making it beneficial to your skin and your conscience.

SIBU Beauty’s motto is that true beauty begins on the inside, and with the cellular support it truly does. This soft gel supplement is designed specifically to nourish and protect the body as well as promoting healthy hair, nails and skin from the inside out.

Cellular support achieves this by helping repair and rejuvenates cells, increasing vitality and scavenging for free radicals.

The SIBU Beauty range has been featured on the Loose Women programme on ITV, with presenters Andrea Mclean and Jane McDonald both expressing the benefits they have experienced from taking SIBU Beauty Cellular Support capsules.

If you like the SIBU Beauty Cellular Support product you may also like to try:

The truth of the matter is, for really healthy looking, beautiful skin, it needs to start on the inside with plenty of sleep and water alongside a balanced diet, but there are one or two things that can give our skin a helping hand, and here they are…

Get a good cleanser!

The skin is an excretory organ, so it is important to cleanse your skin twice a day, once before sleeping and once after sleeping. This removes the dirt, oil,  cellular toxins and bacteria the skin has eliminated during your sleeping hours, which is the period during which the skin is most active, replenishing and rejuvenating itself naturally after a long day. A good cleanse will help that natural process and enhance the skins ability to then absorb other topical products.

Which cleanser is best for you depends on your skin, but here is a quick guide.

If you have a tendency towards dry skin, you are going to benefit from an oil based cleanser such Active Age Defense’s Whipped Cream Cleanser.  It combines Beta-Ginseng Complex with both mild cleansers and restorative nut oils to gently cleanse your skin without drying it out, leaving it fresh, smooth and soft.

If you have oily skin you a more likely to benefit from a gel or foam based cleanser such as Earth Science’s Clarifying Facial Wash. This is a mild foam based cleanser which will help absorb the excess oil from your skin and remove other residues as well, while oil free moisturized work to keep the skin soft and never dry. This product contains Aloe Vera, cumber extracts, sea kelp, birch bark, lavender and hyaluronic acid to help refresh the skin.

Follow up a good cleanser with a strong serum.

A serum is the most hardworking product in your beauty regime. They can be used to target your particular areas of concern and therefore help in activating the body’s natural self-healing process to restore balance to your skin. A serum is concentrated, lightweight and fast-absorbing, often containing certain active agents such as CoQ10, vitamins C and or E, green tea, DMAE or alpha lipoic acid. So there are lots to choose from.

If you’re aiming for more youthful looking skin, then a firming, wrinkle reducing serum such as Hydra-vital could be for you. Hydra-vital helps plump up find lines and thanks to the hyaluronan in it, delivers powerful hydration. This product is also great for those of you with sensitive skin and it helps keep your skin smooth and hydrated all day.

If hyper-pigmentation (or dark areas of skin) are your main concern, you need to choose a serum like Reviva’s Under Eye Dark Circles formula which can help brighten the skin. 

After cleansing and applying your serum it’s time for a day moisturizer.

A good day moisturizer is the 3^rd step in your beauty ritual because it will help seal in your serum and protect your skin from the elements. The best moisturizers are those that contain a sun protection agent to help simplify your beauty routine even further. A good day moisturizer to begin with is Active Age Defence’s Beta Ginseng Hydrating Day Crème which combines nourishing ingredients to help feed the skin inside out . The formula helps protect skin from pollution, dryness and a stress by melting into the skin to deliver a flawless, luminous ton and texture. 

As well as a day moisturizer you also need a night moisturizer.

As with the day moisturizer, the night moisturizer with lock in any serum you have applied before bedtime and help your skin repair itself at night. You don’t want or need sunscreen protection in a night cream and you can afford to opt for a heavier more rejuvenation formula to really help get the skins lipid barrier repaired ready for the next day, to help minimize water loss and avoid dry, irritated skin.

Of course, if you have oily skin, you should take care to avoid a night moisturizer that is too heavy as you don’t want to clog the pores and make the skin shiny due to un-absorbed oils. In which case the night cream from Active Age Defence is a great product for night time skin repair. It is hydrating and therefore replenishes the skin with argan oil, aloe vera and soy proteins to help rebuild those cells.

For extra hard days try a treatment mask.

Once or twice a week you can really help your skin out by applying a treatment mask. These masks focus attention on a specific problem area and come in various forms and are made from many different ingredients meaning there will definitely be one out there to suit you.

If you suffer from blemished, acne prone skin, a clay based mask such as our Mint Tingle mask may be the best option. The special firming clay in this product tightens the skin and absorbs any excess oils with unclog the ports and promotes a natural skin renewal process. It also contains witch hazel and ivy extract to purify and tone the skin and peppermint oil to sooth the delicate and often sort skin around spots and blemishes, with azulene extract to help heal and calm the inflammation of outbreaks.

Combining these 5 product times and of course, using them regularly can, in combination with a healthy diet, lots of water and sleep, help to bring your inner beauty out and rejuvenate your skin.

Reference: Anne Marie Fine, NMD, 2013 Aisle7.. Aisle7.com

We all know the tell tales signs that we are getting too hot.

We start sweating, pumping more blood and turning pink thanks to the extra blood flowing into the skin. This is the body’s typical response to a rise in body temperature which is above the norm of 37 degrees Celsius. It is an adaptive response to help regulate our temperature and this ability to adapt to changes in temperature can be negatively affected nu conditions such as: poor aerobic fitness, cardiovascular conditions, kidney conditions or respiratory conditions. Some medications can also reduce the body’s ability to adapt to temperature and the risk associated with getting too hot increase.

These risks are: heat exhaustion and the potentially life threatening heatstroke. So summer sunshine and rising temperatures are definitely something to take seriously as well as enjoy.

How to Help Beat the Heat

Here are some of the best recommendations for helping you keep cool and stay safe in warmer weather:

1. Drink, drink and drink some more. Instead of waiting until you are thirsty, provide the body with a steady supply of fluids, water being one of the best.  Avoid alcohol in hotter weather as this dehydrates the body.
2. Acclimatize. By spending time in the heat, you are allowing your body to get used to the change in temperature and stimulate its adaptive responses. However, if you are at risk to increased heat due to some of the conditions mentioned above this method be not be best suited to you.
3. Dress for the weather. Keep clothing loose and lightweight to avoid your temperature rising further and take frequent cool showers or baths to help release the heat from your body.
4. Relax. Another top tip for keeping safe in hotter weather is to keep activity to a minimum or restrict it to the cooler hours of the day. Increased physical activity raises the internal body temperature and if you’re hot already this will only add to the body’s heat burden.

Of course it’s one thing to know how to prevent heat related illness but you should also know the tell-tale signs that you may have over indulged in warm weather. So here we go:

Heatstroke can come on rapidly once the body has lost its ability to adapt to heat as such, you need to pay attention to the signs of heat related stress which are: heavy sweating, paleness, fatigue, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, headaches, shallow breathing and weak yet fast heartbeats.

If you notice any of the symptoms it’s time to sit down, relax, have a long drink of water and take a cool shower. If the symptoms progress to anything more severe such as vomiting or fainting you need to access emergency medical care.

So don’t get caught out this summer, make sure you know how to beat the heat and take care in the summer sunshine.

Essentially coeliac disease causes damage to the lining of the small intestine and occasionally can also affect organs such as the pancreas, thyroid glands and the nervous system. This tendency to affect organs beyond the small intestine mean coeliac disease can lead to an increased risk of diabetes, thyroid disease and neurological disorders respectively.

Most worryingly, a person can suffer coeliac disease and not show any symptoms, however, some things to be aware of that do show up in coeliac disease patients are:

Diarrhoea,

Abdominal pain,

Wind and bloating,

Weight loss,

Fatigue

Mouth ulcers

Muscle cramps,

Delayed growth or short stature

Joint pain

Seizures

Painful skin rashes

Infertility.

As well as the physical symptoms listed above, coeliac disease has also been known to cause some emotional problems such as anxiety and depression.

Healthy Tips

As coeliac disease is triggered by gluten the best advice for suffers or people who suspect they may have coeliac disease is to work with a health professional and go gluten free. You should also go for regular check up’s to monitor coeliac disease and check for anaemia and bone health as well as nutritional deficiencies which may arise.

Helpful Supplements

References

Typical Chronic Candidiasis symptoms are: abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, gas, bloating, burping, indigestion, heartburn, recurrent vaginal yeast infections, nasal congestion, sinus issues, bad break, skin rashes, allergies, chemical sensitivities, rectal itching, muscle aches, cold hands and feet, fatigue, depression, irritability difficulty concentrating headaches and last but not least, dizziness.
The cause of these symptoms as well as what chronic candidiasis is, is an overgrowth in the gastro-intestinal tract. This overgrowth is usually of the fungus or benign yeast Candida albicans hence the name chronic candidiasis or as it is more commonly known, yeast syndrome.

So what can you do to help with symptoms of chronic candidiasis?

1.       Reduce your intake of refined carbs and sugars found ion things like white flour and fruit juices as these foods may help yeast grow in the intestine. Also avoid breads and cheese which contain mould and yeast.
2.       Go probiotic to try and control yeast levels in the intestines, bifidobacteria are a good one to try.
3.       You can also try anti-fungal supplements to reduce yeast in the intestine like caprylic acid or supplemental garlic.
4.       Visit your doctor to make sure your symptoms are a result of Chronic Candidiasis and not another health issue.

Modern Herbals Must Have Supplements for Chronic Candidiasis

Digestive enzymes are another great way for inhibit the growth of candida in the small intestine.

Betaine Hydrochloride to help inhibit the growth of candida preventing it from becoming established in the intestine.

Caprylic acid can be taken to help treat the symptoms of excessive yeast bacteria.

Echinacea may be effective in preventing the recurrence of yeast infections.

Goldenseal, due to its berberine content has an antifungal property and has also been shown to help relieve the diarrhoea symptoms associated to chronic candidiasis.

Peppermint equally has been shown to have antifungal properties.

First things first, what is an allergy?

An allergy is a response which is launched by the body’s immune system in response to a certain food, inhalant (airborne substance) or chemical.

The term allergy is often used interchangeable with the term sensitivity however not all sensitivities are true allergies. Sensitivities is a more general term than allergy and refers to reactions that do not affect the immune system (making sensitivities not technically allergies) or reactions with undetermined causes.

So allergy are an immune response, sensitivities are not.

Some non-allergic sensitivities are often referred to as intolerances, the most obvious example of an intolerance being lactose intolerance, which you can read more about here. Intolerances or sensitivities may be cause by toxins, enzymes deficiencies, drug and chemical reactions, psychological associations and other mechanisms.

Intolerances and sensitivities can also be specifically environmental, caused by chemicals found either indoors or outdoors in food, water, medication, cosmetics, perfumes, textiles, building materials and plastics.

Taking Action to Control Allergies:

As with all the advice we give you here at Modern Herbals, the first thing you should do if you suspect an allergy or sensitivity is find a professional, usually starting with your doctor to help you work out the cause and solution to your problem.

Specifically for allergies you may want to ask your doctor about anti-histamines such as fexofendadine and cetirizine, which can relieve seasonal and all year round allergy symptoms.

For food allergies it is advisable to work with a specialist.

Finally for controlling household allergens like dust, mould and animal dander you can take matters into your own hands and remove things like carpets to minimize these allergens as well as cleaning regularly of course.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms associated to allergies of various types are:

• Watery, itchy eyes,
• Sneezing,
• Headaches,
• Fatigue,
• Postnasal drip,
• Runny, stuffy or itchy noses,
• Sore throat,
• Dark circles under the eyes,
• Itchy mouth or throat,
• Abdominal pain,
• Diarrhoea,
• Or red, itchy skin rashes.

In regard to more serious and in some cases life threatening allergies, most commonly those to nuts, shellfish and some drugs symptoms may also include difficulties with breathing and swallowing.

Digestive and Urinary Conditions Related to Allergies

1. Bed-wetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis can be related to allergies if not other medical causes are apparent.
2. Cyclic vomiting syndrome can be caused by certain food allergies, most commonly cow’s milk allergies. This syndrome is characterised by unpredictable, explosive and unexplained bouts of vomiting. It affects nearly 2% or school children.
3. Vague gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain, gas, bloating and diarrhoea can sometimes be triggered by food sensitivities if no other cause can be found.
4. Multiple Food Protein Intolerance (MFPI) in infants can initiate symptoms such as: severe colic, gastroesophageal reflux and esophagitis.
5. Leaky Gut Syndrome refers to a food allergy that has been linked to an increase in the permeability of the intestines. Exactly how and why this increase occurs is still being researched.

Testing for Allergies:

1. Scratch Testing: this is the most common method for allergy testing. The skin is scratched with a needle which contains a portion of the suspected allergen being tested. If a reaction occurs the allergy exists, if a reaction doesn’t occur an allergy is said not to exist. However this test is notorious for a high occurrence of inaccurate results.
2. RAST Testing (radio-allergo-sorbent-test) indirectly measures the antibodies in the blood which react to specific foods. It is used by numerous physicians and is considered in general, a reliable test for allergies, although it does not help diagnose non allergic food sensitivities as it focuses on the immune responses.
3. Cytotoxic Testing views a patient’s serum under a microscope to monitor whether it is reaction to specific substances however; this test is not generally thought to be reliable.
4. Clinical Ecology: this method of testing is done by injecting a tiny dilution of the suspected allergen under the patient’s skin, and then waiting for a reaction. Based on what reaction is seen additional dilutions may be tested. It determines not only whether an allergy exists or not, but also whether another dilution can neutralize the reaction seen.
5. Elimination and Reintroduction is seen as the most reliable method for identifying allergies and does exactly what the name suggests. The suspected allergen is eliminated from diet and then after a significant period, is reintroduced. If when eliminated symptoms abate and then when it’s introduced they return, the allergy exists.

Useful Supplements for Allergy Sufferers

Probiotics can help improve digestion in people who suffer food allergies in particular, helping the intestines to control allergen absorption and change immune system responses to foods.

Betaine Hydrochloride can help with digestion too as hydrochloric acid is secreted by the stomach to breakdown protein and therefore may help reduce allergens into smaller, non-allergenic molecules.

Digestive Enzymes again may work in a similar way to betaine hydrochloride.

Flavonoids are thought to be natural anti-histamine and may help reduce allergic reactions. This is another excuse for indulge in some flavonoid rich chocolate or if youre watching your waistline try Nature-C.

References

The most important role of vitamin D in the body is maintaining the levels of calcium in the bloodstream. Vitamin D regulates these levels by both increasing the absorption of calcium from food and reducing the loss of calcium in urine.  Together, these functions of vitamin D keep calcium in the body so any calcium excess can be stored in the bones helping to keep them healthy.

If sufficient levels of vitamin D cannot be maintained through diet alone it can be taken as a supplemented of course, and indeed, vitamin D in supplement form has been used to treat all manner of illnesses , including: Crohn’s disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Osteoporosis, Rickets, Vitamin D deficiency, Asthma, Burns, the Common Cold, Coeliac Disease, Depression, Epilepsy, Hypertension, Influenza, Lower Back Pain, Tension Headaches, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Type 1 and 2 Diabetes, Alcohol Withdrawal, Amenorrhea and Osteoporosis, Breast Cancer, Cardiac Arrhythmia, Colon Cancer, Migraines, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Prostate Cancer, Urinary Incontinence and Sunburn.

So you should definitely have some vitamin D in your medicine cabinet at home!

Cod liver oil is a fantastic source of vitamin D as are certain foods such as egg yolks and butter, however, the best way to boost your vitamin D levels naturally is to get out into the sunshine as this is how the body produces its own vitamin D via a chemical reaction triggered by sunlight.

If you are obese in particular, a new study has found you may are more likely to suffer a vitamin D deficieny. Published in the Jorunal PLOS Medicine, this new study looked at the genetic data from 21 other studies, which equated to a sample of 42,000 people. The finding was that for every 10% increase in BMI, there was a 4% drop in the vitamin D levels in the body. The researchers attribute this to the fact that vitamin D is stored in the fatty tissues of the body and therefore obese people have more space to store more vitamin D thus removing it from the bloodstream.

So if you suffer from any of the illnesses we mentioned above, if you don’t get a lot of sunlight or you are overweight, you may have a vitamin D deficiency, in fact as many as 1 in 7 adults have been reported as being vitamin D deficient so it’s a common problem.

You can buy vitamin D in supplement form here:

and for children here:

or as cod liver oil here: