I shot this video for Truth In Slimming where I have tracking my week on the 02 Diet, which is all about foods that are high in antioxidants for staying healthy, slim and young looking. As I posted on Truth In Aging some of the foods recommended in the 02 diet are designated “beauty foods”. However, trying to reach the diet’s 30,000 ORAC count per day was no picnic. Still, a week on the 02 Diet got me familiar high ORAC rating food, making healthy choices and a few tips and short cuts. And I’m sure my skin is looking better. In this video I take you on a tour of my kitchen and if you watch it you’ll find out why dried oregano should be your new best friend.

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I spent part of last weekend reading a book called Your Skin, Younger- New Science Secrets to Naturally Younger Skin. I learned a few new things, got a couple of surprises and was happy to see that my own research during the past couple of years seems to have been taking me in the right direction. What’s exciting about Your Skin, Younger is that the authors (two doctors and a nutritionist) have pulled together the recent breakthroughs in understanding aging and the effects of nutrition, as well as ingredients that aid cellular repair.

Here are some of the highlights of Your Skin, Younger – you’ll recognize a few of the ideas from articles on Truth In Aging (and, more recently, Truth In Slimming).

Sugar isn’t sweet

Scientists now know that advanced glycation endproducts (called AGEs appropriately) lurk behind why we age. They are created when a sugar molecule hooks onto one of the amino acids of a protein or when a sugar combines with certain fats or other compounds in food. AGEs also form within the human body when glucose fuses to proteins, fats, or DNA. (source). This is a bad thing because AGEs have been implicated in the progression of age-related diseases and, as we’ve written about on Truth In Aging, glycation leads to cross-linking, which is the formation of chemical bridges between proteins or other large molecules. A material that undergoes cross-linking usually becomes harder, less elastic and has a tendency to tear or crack. In the aging body, cross-linking contributes to hardened arteries, wrinkled skin and stiff joints.

AGEs and diet

This was one the surprising notions in the book: a diet that is high in animal protein – especially if meat is dry cooked with a high heat – encourages AGEs. Your Skin, Younger actually says that the Atkins Diet will age you. I delved into this for Truth In Slimming and you can check out my post “Will The Atkins Diet Age You Faster. Less surprisingly, the book advocates eating veggies and fruit. But you definitely shouldn’t consider going completely vegetarian. In 2008, a study found that vegetarian adults have lower rates of collagen production and that levels of AGEs are much higher in long-term vegetarians. This is because they miss out on taurine and carnosine, antiaging amino acids that are mostly absent from plants.

Something fishy about collagen

This one is new to me. Apparently fish cartilage supplements (with collagen and glycosaminoglycans, or GAGs) will significantly improve the appearance of the skin – in terms of increasing dermal thickness and improving elasticity. I read this with some skepticism, partly because the body does not efficiently absorb many oral supplements and I couldn’t imagine fish collagen going down that well. However, the Your Skin, Younger authors insist that small peptide units (although they then say ’some’, implying not all) are absorbed through the intestine and then they act as a signal to turn on fibroblast activity. A 2006 study found that fish protein, soy, lycopene and green tea eliminated wrinkles in post menopausal women.

Pill popping

CoQ10 gets a lot of love from Your Skin, Younger, which cites a 2004 that showed that oral supplements of CoQ10 had a positive impact on the skin. Now, about a decade ago I had a flirtation with taking CoQ10 and selenium supplements with the idea that they’d make me look younger. After a year or so, I concluded that I was wasting my money. Still, I am intrigued enough to do some new research on CoQ10. The authors propose a cocktail of supplements that include CoQ10, alpha lipoic acid, ceramides and L-carnitine. While I decide whether I am willing to buy the supplementation idea, its good to know what all of these ingredients are available topically in many of TIA’s favorite potions and lotions (see Nutra-Lift Foundation for CoQ10, Reviva for alpha lipoic acid and GloTherapeutics for L-carnitine.

Topical fruits

Moving on from supplements, Your Skin, Younger highlights some topical ingredients that will be familiar to many of you wrinkle warriors: EPA omega-3 (we came across that recently in the new Reviva Labs’ EFAs Cream), ceramides, squalene (make sure its from olive, not shark), phosphatidylserine (I’m going to have to check this one out), alpha hydroxy acids, fish cartilage (I shall be hunting this one down!), soy protein and well known antioxidants such as turmeric, tea, wine, cocoa and botanical odds and ends such as horse chestnut.

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Squalane an emollient used in tons of cosmetics can be made from either a plant source (olives mostly) or shark’s livers. I had blithely assumed that these days getting hold of an olive must be a heck of a lot easier than hunting down a shark and that very few of my potions could be further endangering this fragile species.

It turns out I was wrong. More than 100 out of 400 shark species are being commercially exploited and many are so overexploited that they face extinction. Nonetheless, the cosmetic industry maintains a preference for shark oil-derived squalane as it requires shorter processing times and produces a higher yield than its olive oil counterpart.

In 2006, the EU imposed deep sea shark fishing limits in the North-East Atlantic, and pressure from environmental groups prompted companies such as L’Oreal and Unilever to begin phasing out the use of squalane in their products in 2008.

Despite such efforts, identifying the origin of the compound has been impossible, thus cosmetics manufacturers cannot confidently say where their squalane comes from. Conveniently, the cynical might say. Anyhow, now researchers in Italy claim to have developed a method to distinguish olive oil from shark squalene and squalane samples, and detect the illegal addition of shark derivatives in olive oil based products.

The author, Federica Camin, said the approach could help protect deepwater sharks and allow product manufacturers to communicate ethical practices.

“Our method will protect both cosmetics firms and consumers from commercial fraud and will make it possible to promote the production of squalene from olive oil. It will also allow the origin of squalane within a finished product to be determined.”

What can we do? Start asking our cosmetic companies where their squalane comes from.

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I have just read The O2 Diet by Keri Glassman, a diet plan that is (extremely) high in antioxidants and is supposed to lead to a healthier, leaner, younger looking you. I reviewed the book for our sister site Truth In Slimming and I am currently monitoring my food to calculate its ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) value in an experiment to see whether The O2 Diet is doable. I’ll reporting back in week’s time on Truth In Slimming. In the meantime, I thought I should share Ms Glassman’s list of beauty foods that, she claims, will improve your complexion.

Cantaloupe

In ORAC value terms, the cantaloupe melon doesn’t really qualify as a super fruit (a mere 600 ORAC points per serving), but as food for your skin it excels because it has so much vitamin A – much more than your required daily amount. Having enough dietary vitamin A is essential to combat a dry, flakey complexion. Melons are also good for B vitamins and vitamin C, the ultimate vit for counteracting sun damage.

Coconut

Apparently coconut helps with absorption of calcium and other nutrients. It is also high in fat-burning medium chain tryglycerides.

Figs

A study found that a mere handful of dried figs will increase antioxidant plasma levels for up to four hours (much longer than most other foods). They also contain exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids.

Lean protein including beef, chicken and fish

These foods all contain the enzyme CoQ10, or ubiquinone, a potent antioxidant naturally produced by the body and important to cell functioning and development. Ubiquinone naturally decreases with aging. It has properties that allow it to prevent or reduce oxidative damage to tissues, and may be more effective than Vitamin E in doing so.

Mushrooms

Fungi are packed with nutrients such as B6, folate, niacin, riboflavin, iron and potassium.

Olive oil

Rich in antioxidant polyphenols and good fats, two teaspoons of olive oil have about 100 ORAC points.

Papaya

A cup of papaya has 500 ORAC points, vitamins A, C and E as well as the exfoliating enzyme papain.

Quinoa

It has more protein than other grains and, unlike the rest of the edible grass family, it contains a balanced set of amino acids. It is notable as a source of riboflavin (vitamin B2), which is necessary for energy production within cells. Nasa is considering making it required eating on long space flights.

Red bell pepper

You will get more than 450% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C from a red bell pepper and it is unique in combining large amounts of vitamins A and E along with the C. Half a cup will give you 600 ORAC points.

Rosemary

Improves circulation, is an anti-irritant and one teaspoon has 400 ORAC points.

Salmon

Reduces inflammation and is a source of astaxanthin. Analyses have shown that astaxanthin is also an efficient absorber of specific ultraviolet sunlight rays that may contribute to skin aging and cancer.

Strawberries

A source of malic acid and one cup will give you a massive 5,400 ORAC points.

Watermelon

Rich in lycopene, it protects against sunburn.

Glassman’s The O2 Diet also includes lobster and oysters, but I’m not wild about either of them and neither are really a practical option for stocking up on. Nor do I want to encourage crass manufacturers of department store cosmetics to start peddling overpriced serums with lobster extract. Remember, you read it here first. In the meantime, if you can find out more about The O2 Diet on Truth In Slimming and how I fared during a one week trial of the diet and its daily goal of 30,000 ORAC points a day.

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Dr. Samuel S. Epstein has a bone to pick with the cosmetics and personal-care industry in his most recent book, Toxic Beauty.

While the sector of personal-care and beauty products continues to boom, Dr. Epstein’s says he’s concerned with laundry list of cancer-causing ingredients that are continuing to be unregulated by US government agencies (ie. the FDA). Interestingly enough, Dr. Epstein contends that since your skin is highly permeable and many ingredients contain “penetration enhancers” (ingredients that deliver the product further into your skin) while also bypasses the detoxifying enzymes such as in your liver where food is normally filtered, this all makes your skin that much more susceptible to even greater risks to chemicals than if you ate them.

He applauds some of our European counterparts (namely German-speaking countries of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland) since they can look at a product label and are educated on what’s safe to use, as opposed to US consumers who remain in the dark. “This lack of awareness among North Americans is one of the reasons why I felt the strong need to write this book.” His main point is while we are well aware and warned about the toxicity of  things like cigarette smoking, for example, we are rather misinformed and even blatantly uninformed about the health hazards of our everyday products. The silver lining he offers is that not only are these hazards preventable, but there are several ‘green’ and organic options popping up which are better alternatives to use, such as brands like Aubrey Organics and Burt’s Bees.

Reading chapter by chapter of different health hazards, including ingredients he marks as “hidden carcinogens” – which are unlisted ingredients that are posed as cancer-causing when broken down or when reacting with other contaminates to became such, as opposed to frank carcinogens which are straightforwardly labeled – I became a little paranoid about my own beauty products.  Some culprits:

Hormone disruptors

His list includes preservatives (such as parabens and triclosan), detergents, and lavender and tea tree oil. Dr. Epstein contends they pose threats such as breast enlargement, and weak estrogenic and anti-testosterone effects.

Fragrances

Perfumes and fragrances are listed as the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis, and may be involved in causing asthma. He says this may be a clue as why one in ten people in the US suffers from bouts of asthma, compared to only one in 20 of the world’s population.

Lipsticks

I know, I wanted to shield my eyes as a lipstick/lip gloss aficionado myself. But many name-brand lipsticks contain detectable levels of harmful lead. In a 2007 study by the Campaign for safe products, they found 61% of the 33 brands of lipstick analyzed contained lead. The result is a slow poison, since lead accumulates over time. The worst offenders? L’Oreal Color Riche in True Red and Classic Wine. The bad news? Lead is not listed as an ingredient so it is also not subject to any regulation. It should be noted, however, that last summer the FDA declared that the traces of lead in lipsticks were minute and, therefore, acceptable.

Sunscreens and sunblocks

Dr. Epstein’s gripe with sunscreens is that it’s counterintuitive: not only does it encourage you to sit out in the sun longer exposing yourself to long-wave UV radiation (UVA), no sunscreen can provide protection longer than 2 hours. When choosing a sun-protecting cream, he encourages you to opt for a sunblock as opposed to skin-absorbing sunscreen, which generates free radicals (agents that break down molecules in the skin and accelerates visible signs of aging). Sunblocks on the other hand contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are highly protective. Bonus fact: a consumer alert from derms publicized in April 2008 warned that lip glosses act like a magnifying glass, allowing the lips to penetrate even more harmful UV rays of the sun. Just to be safe, mix lip gloss with zinc oxide for extra protection instead of using it alone.

The use of nanoparticles, or fullerenes in beauty products

In an interview with Dr. Joseph Mercola, Epstein calls attention to fullerenes, an unlabeled ingredient which are are highly stable, microscopic, hollow spheres that carry the active ingredients into the skin. He claims these pose an “extraordinary danger” to your health.  “Nanoparticles, because of their ultra microscopic size readily penetrate the skin, can invade underlying blood vessels, get into the general blood stream, and produce distance toxic effects, and we have evidence of this as including toxic effects in the brain, including degenerative effects in the brain, including nerve damage.” He calls out Perricone MD as a cosmeceutical line containing fullerenes in at least 7 of their products and a whole mix of carcinogens in other products of their line.

4 ingredients to avoid

There’s a lot of ingredients he sprinkles throughout the book, but he says on page 208 that if you have to avoid only four make it talc (which is linked to ovarian cancer), titanium dioxide powder (note: in non-powdered consistencies it poses no health threat he says), sunscreens and certain dark hair dyes which contain many frank and hidden carcinogens.

One thing that made me scratch my head, on pages 152-153, Dr. Epstein lists favorable anti-aging ingredients, such as date palm oil for eyelid wrinkles and topical green tea cream for sun damage, and restylane which contains hyaluronic acid that has been shown to be both safe and effective. However, he goes on to also include Botox injections to that list (“[Botox] has been in use long enough to be considered relatively safe, but must be injected by a qualified dermatologist”).  I’m a little weary to be advised in favor of Botox, derived from botulism toxin which is injected in the skin to temporarily paralyze facial muscles…that too from a book entitled “Toxic Beauty.” Yikes. And let’s not forget that researchers claim that Botox can cross the blood brain barrier.

The takeaway

After listening to Dr. Epstein’s interview with Dr. Mercola before reading the book, I was a little skeptical that he was only out to pick on big name beauty companies like Perricone. After reading the book though, I think there is a legitimate concern over the under-regulated cosmetic industry in the US. Also, I was a fan that it wasn’t all doom and gloom — instead of saying bah hambug to all beauty products, Dr. Epstein instead provides alternative to safer, organic brands. He also provides a model that is similar to the UK model with modification to call more attention and inform consumers about cancer-causing ingredients that are not talked about as often (even citing studies such as the one phthalates which Marta also mentions in one of her posts). He also touches upon ingredients from nail polish to hair dye to air fresheners, although I do wish he provided more alternatives than the 19 brands he lists at the end of the book. I think it’s a well-intentioned effort that may be a good starting point in educating yourself in the discipline of toxic ingredients.

He ends saying: “Avoiding toxic cosmetics and personal-care products doesn’t mean giving up any of the conveniences of modern life, it just means exercising some judgment. We have little to lose, and much to gain, from taking the time to be vigilant about what we put on our skin.”

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When you pass by a mirror, do you recoil at your wrinkles, scowl at your sun spots, hem and haw over your hair, fixate on your flab, and cringe at the cottage cheese under your skin? Or do you smile at your smile lines and wrap your jiggly arms around your beautiful body? A new book by Dr. Robert Tornambe- The Beauty Quotient Formula- aims to teach you how to identify with the latter image, turning that natural urge to frown upside down.

Let’s face it- we all have a tendency to find fault with ourselves, and most of us have probably gotten a wee bit preoccupied with the aging process. Why else would a site like Truth in Aging appeal to so many people? Classic beauty is typically defined in terms of symmetry. Western ideals find perfection in features like large eyes, distinct cheekbones, full lips, round breasts, an oval face, a small nose, and an hourglass figure. The Beauty Quotient turns this anatomical archetype on its head, emphasizing uniqueness over uniformity.

According to The Beauty Quotient Formula, perfection is entirely subjective. Changing facial features to conform to certain popular notions of beauty (a la cosmetic surgery) detracts from an individual’s individuality. Beyond physical appearance, personality, attitude, and style all play a role in a person’s overall BQ. You can asses your own score for three different sections- Genetic Destiny, Current Habits, and Style- determining where your strengths and weaknesses lie on the BQ spectrum. You don’t even need to buy the book – the full (75-question) quiz is available on its website.

My personal grades proved to be lower than expected. In the interest of full disclosure:

* Genetic Destiny: 98 (out of 160)

* Current Habits: 132 (out of 210)

* Style: 112 (out of 160)

What had me stumped once I reviewed my answers was how I could realistically raise my scores. The BQ measurement is meant to function as a work in progress. I can understand making minor adjustments to lifestyle choices, but how can you make so-called progress on features that are part of your genetic makeup? I had marked every question with the most honest, appropriate selection from the multiple-choice responses. Yes, my skin is dry and my hands are veiny. These facts of life (which don’t necessarily bother me) are certainly not going to diminish as I age; they will more likely worsen. So how am I supposed to boost my BQ…without lying to the test?

The beauty quotient runs into the same hurdles as the much-debated emotional intelligence quotient (EQ), since there is no standard against which beauty can be measured. An EQ test may give insight into an individual’s personality and psychology, but it can’t definitively predict future social performance. Likewise, the BQ quiz has a long way to go before it can effectively evaluate the healthiness of a person’s self-image. Despite the shortcomings of this self-evaluation tool, the book offers up other nuggets of knowledge that are actually worth a good read.

In chapter two, The Beauty Quotient Formula puts forth 10 Commandments to incorporate into your daily life. Living by these tenets is meant to automatically make you feel more satisfied in your own skin. From “own your beauty” (#1) to “don’t compare yourself to others (#7) to “count your blessings” (#10), the BQ principles to live by are fairly basic. You’ve probably heard them before, if not from your own mother, than from a media figure like Dr. Phil or Tyra Banks. You’ve heard that confidence trumps cleavage when it comes to sexiness, and that personality beats perfect skin. The question is, how do you set your priorities straight when it comes to personal fulfillment in the beauty department?

The best take-away from the BQ’s condensed list of beauty rules is to embrace your genetic destiny (meaning the intrinsic mix of physical qualities, quirks, and curves you were born with) and to accentuate it. Putting your best features first is an easy change everyone can make without actually changing a thing. This concept also crops up in the BQ’s age commandment, which says that thou shalt heed your age and experience. If you live with zest and acknowledge the wisdom of your years, you’ll only be as old as you feel.

The BQ advocates a full lifestyle reevaluation and gradual transformation. Beyond tried-and-true beauty tips like managing stress and wearing sunscreen, the book doesn’t offer many tangible specifics (unless you count an endorsement for Dr. T’s Ageless Revolution product). There are no quick fixes that have lasting power. So, if you want to trim down your love handles, exercise and diet adjustments will go much farther than liposuction. If you find yourself stuck in a beauty rut, it’s time to start tweaking your hairstyle, wardrobe, or skincare regimen – without going overboard in any one area. True beauty draws equally from personal expression and outward appearance. Being so hung up on the sagging chicken wings at your sides that you avoid all sleeveless social situations would, theoretically, drag your BQ score way down.

Now that we’ve nailed down the bulk of the BQ, it’s time to decide whether we can put its principles to use in our everyday lives. Are its commandments practical amid a multi-billion dollar beauty industry and culture of a instant gratification? Can a more positive outlook on beauty really be taught in a book? The Beauty Quotient Formula is no substitute for your therapist’s couch. Unfortunately, many of the glass-half-full recommendations in the book would require more than a quick read to alter your innate attitude. Although you might feel inspired to shake up your beauty routine after reading the book, you probably won’t experience any life-altering revelations the next time you look in a mirror – at least not overnight.

Bottom line: The book makes a solid case for sensible, healthy living. You won’t find the secret to a flat tummy or smooth skin. You’ll need to look elsewhere for the right hair loss treatment or wrinkle antidote. And you definitely won’t find any plastic surgery recommendations here. Which is ironic, considering the book was written by a plastic surgeon. But this fact uncovers the essence of the BQ: Surgery is not the way to timeless beauty.

No matter how much you may want to change something about yourself, you are capable of embracing – and enhancing – your intrinsic strengths. You don’t need to undergo a drastic makeover to enhance your personal style and overcome your social anxieties. Though it may not supply ground-breaking solutions for each of your beauty conundrums, looking through the lens of the BQ will point you toward a rosy outlook on life. All in all, The Beauty Quotient Formula puts a positive spin on personal improvement for anyone suffering from a shortage of self-confidence.

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Seeing what an excess of vitamin C did to my sensitive under-eye skin skin got me thinking about what can happen when you unwittingly ingest too much of a good thing. As children, we are taught to eat our veggies…and to take our vitamins when the doctor deems our diets deficient. I bet you’ve never considered the possibility of vitamin overdose, but toxic symptoms can occur when the body stores vitamin levels too high to handle. The medical name for this condition is hypervitaminosis. No, that is not a fake disease some sneaky kid made up to get out of swallowing vitamins. Almost anything can become poisonous if consumed in excess, including alcohol, salt, oxygen, and – yes – vitamins.

Vitamin poisoning is a very real risk, and not only for nutrition overachievers. According to WebMD, 44% of Americans take vitamins and dietary supplements every day, and 84% of them consider these pills entirely safe. Why shouldn’t they, considering 79% of doctors recommend supplements to their patients? This blind acceptance of vitamins as a beneficial regimen for everyday health makes them especially prone to consuming in excess. In 2007, 58,622 exposures to different types of vitamins were reported to poison control centers across the U.S., accounting for 17 major adverse outcomes and 1 death. Of this total, over 90% of cases occurred in children younger than 20 years old.

Which vitamins might make an individual vulnerable to OD? Fat-soluble vitamins are most likely to build up over time in the body since they are stored in the liver and fatty tissues. Typically, the side effects that rise from a high dosage of a particular vitamin disappear once the dosage is reduced. Hypervitaminosis generally happens from overdoing supplements rather than eating too much of a nutrient from dietary sources, although highly fortified foods are an exception. Even an elevated intake of multivitamins, especially those containing iron supplements, can trigger toxic side effects. A lesson in moderation:
Vitamin A: Though it accounts for only around 1% of cases reported to poison control centers, vitamin A comes with a notorious history of overdose — probably due to its distinctive signs. When hypervitaminosis A sets in, the skin turns a yellowish-orangey hue, not unlike jaundice. More serious symptoms include bone loss, blurred vision, hair loss, and damage to internal organs (especially the liver). Overdose of vitamin A can also lead to birth defects in pregnant women. The recommended daily vitamin A intake is around 300 micrograms (mcg) for children and anywhere from 700mcg to 1,200mcg in adults. Overdosing would generally require at least doubling these amounts. Vitamin A is considered acutely toxic at doses of 25,000 IU/kg or higher.

Vitamin B-3: Also known as niacin, vitamin B-3 can be found in food sources as varied as green vegetables, animal proteins, and pumpernickel bagels. It can also be synthesized from tryptophan, which is present in meat, dairy, and eggs. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 20mg (9mg for young children) with a maximum of 35mg. Toxic doses are reached at 1,000 mg per day. Overdoing it on vitamin B-3 can result in dermatological flare-ups, such as skin flushing or itching, and gastrointestinal problems, such as indigestion and liver toxicity. These side-effects can be ameliorated by using sustained-release forms of niacin or supplementing dosage with aspirin. Even though doctors often prescribe around 2,000 mg of niacin to help lower cholesterol, such high doses of niacin are also known to exacerbate diabetes and gout.

Vitamin B-6: Naturally present in poultry, fish, grains, and legumes, this water-soluble B vitamin functions in protein and amino acid metabolism. Pyridoxine, a form of vitamin B-6, is the supplement of choice for bodybuilders. It is also frequently used in the treatment of PMS, ADHD, childhood autism, schizophrenia, and carpal tunnel syndrome. An excess of vitamin B-6 can lead to sensory impairment, clumsiness, and even paralysis. The RDA for adults is about 1.3 mg/day for adults and 0.5 mg/day for young children. To reach a neurotoxic limit, you would have to take chronic dosage in the range of 300 to 500 mg per day.

Vitamin D: D stands for dairy, as well as egg yolks, beef liver, fatty fish, and fortified foods. A glass of fortified milk provides around 100 IU per cup, which is about half the adequate intake for children and adults under 50. Those over 50 need at least 400 IU, and that number jumps up to 600 IU for those over 70. In addition to getting vitamin D from edible sources, your body produces this fat-soluble vitamin when exposed to direct sunlight. There is a wide variance in potential toxicity levels – ranging from 400 IU per day in children to 50,000 IU per day in adults, at which point the sunshine vitamin can cause a buildup of calcium deposits, interfering with the functioning of muscles such as heart tissue. Other characteristics of hypercalcemia include apathy, irritability, and bone pain.

Vitamin C: Even water-soluble vitamins (B-group vitamins and vitamin C), which mostly get flushed out in the urine, can wreak havoc. Just as your skin might rebel against an overly potent concentration of vitamin C, it is also possible to overdose on vitamin C supplements. Exceeding the 60-75 mg recommended daily dosage usually won’t cause any significant health problems, apart from a noticeable laxative effect. However, regularly doing so – especially if combined with iron supplements – can do serious damage. A University of Florida study discovered that patients with a muscle sprain, bruise, or inflammatory disease (as well as those taking iron supplements) accumulated rust deposits inside their bodies when they consumed more than 100 mg a day of vitamin C. Symptoms of vitamin C overdose range from nausea, mouth ulcers, and malodorous urine to kidney stones, copper deficiencies, and premature death.

Non-specific symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, and rashes are common with any chronic vitamin overdose and may be more attributable to additives (such as mannitol) rather than the vitamin content. Should you suspect that you might be overdoing your daily intake of a particular vitamin or mineral, cut your dosage in half rather than quitting cold turkey. Of course, your best course of action if you’re concerned (especially if you have an illness such as diabetes or high blood pressure) is to consult with a doctor or dietitian. As long as you are aware of the guidelines for the supplements you are taking (on your bottle’s label), your body can reap the benefits of vitamins without going overboard.

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The health risks of Botox are hard to underplay but easy to overlook. Few people realize that this widely popular wrinkle smoother is one of the world’s deadliest poisons, and that a drop smaller than a grain of sand is potent enough to kill a 150-pound adult. Two years ago, there were reported deaths among American children who had been treated with Botox for muscle spasms linked to cerebral palsy. Last year, the U.S. FDA required Allergan to put a “black-box” warning on the label of Botox, explaining that the material has the potential to spread from the injection site to other parts of the body…such as the brain. Now there appears to be a new reason to fear Botox, and it’s probably the last thing you’d expect to touch the realm of beauty: terrorism.

There is growing concern that suspect networks across Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East are embroiled in a faux Botox trade. In 2006, a cosmetics salesman in St. Petersburg was sighted hawking limitless vials of an anti-aging drug at suspiciously low prices.  Lab tests on the solution inside the vial turned up a potent clone of botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin produced by bacteria commonly found in spoiled meat…otherwise marketed as Botox. According to a recent article in the Washington Post, U.S. security authorities fear that there may be dozens of international labs manufacturing knock-off poison and feeding a nascent black market for the drug.

This scenario is not just frightening for the fact that faux Botox is unregulated and could be contaminated, thus putting the lives of patients being treated with the muscle relaxer at risk. But it also draws attention to the reality that a Botox-like serum is relatively easy to replicate in a lab. A study by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies reported that a biologist with a master’s degree and $2,000 worth of equipment would be capable of producing a gram of the neurotoxin- sufficient to annihilate an entire population. What if this lethal supply were to fall in the wrong hands?

Al-Qaeda has been suspected of seeking botulinum toxin in the past, but for a more benign purpose than mass killings. Militant groups like Al-Qaeda buy and sell counterfeit drugs for quick cash. According to biodefense experts, this black market is a terrorist’s only known profit-making enterprise that could derivatively yield a weapon of mass destruction. The U.S., Russia, and Iraq have all explored the use of botulinum toxin as a biochemical weapon but abandoned their efforts when it proved unstable during delivery- a stumbling block that has plausibly hindered terrorist groups in the past.

Although the global black market for faux Botox may not be based on using the poison to kill, the potential exists for a harrowing convergence. In fact, a bioterrorism manual distributed to cells of the al-Qaeda terrorist network (and intercepted by coalition intelligence agencies in 2001) listed exact formulas for the production of botulinum toxin. It advocated using botulinum toxin in terrorist attacks, such as in lacing food and water supplies to inflict extensive damage.

Considering the multi-billion dollar market for anti-aging potions, a surge of underground suppliers and distributors has surfaced online, where customers don’t need a prescription to make a transaction. This anonymous network makes buying and selling raw materials that can be converted into biochemical weapons easier than ever. But now terrorist groups no longer need to buy virulent strains of the toxin-producing bacteria and experiment with expensive equipment in a lab to obtain a lethal weapon. Terrorists can bypass these steps by doing business with existing manufacturers that sell discount Botox over the internet. It appears that most of the companies hawking unauthorized Botox are based in China, though many of their websites are attached to fake addresses.

While raw botulinum toxin is one of the most deadliest substances on earth, prescribed doses of Botox contain only a minuscule amount- so small that a terrorist would have to obtain hundreds of vials (at $400 a pop) to have a lethal quantity. Commercially produced Botox is highly diluted for cosmetic purposes, and only eight companies worldwide are licensed to produce variations of the injectible drug. But if a black market for Botox is circulating a raw form of the toxin, then we all have reason to fear. Assuming that bootleg Botox can be bought in sufficient quantities to cause widespread fatalities, it could one day become a formidable terrorist tool.

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Last week, the Organic Consumers Association and a select group of organic personal care brands filed an official complaint with the USDA against manufacturers that have been falsely promoting beauty and grooming products as “organic.” The legal basis of their complaint is that these operations are in violation of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and the National Organic Program. In advertising, labeling, and marketing products as organic when in fact they are not, these cosmetics manufacturers have been given the final slap on the wrist for hoodwinking reasonable consumers.

The band of certified organic brands along with the Organic Consumers Association are requesting a federal investigation into the ambiguous labeling practices of thirteen mainstream so-called organic brands.  At the same time, a new lawsuit has been filed in federal court, taking aim at companies in violation of the false advertising clause of the Lanham Act. Could this be the dawning of a new era when organic consumers are no longer ripped off?

First, a bit of background: The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is a non-profit organization representing the interests of American consumers who purchase organic products. Its overarching goals are “health, justice, sustainability, peace, and democracy.” In the past few years, this group has waged a “Coming Clean” campaign to educate the public about deceptive labeling practices in face and body products. After pressing the USDA to exert more sway over standards in the cosmetics industry, the OCA took its campaign a step further by instigating a consumer boycott of deceptively labeled brands.

The specific USDA-certified brands that have teamed up with the Organic Consumers Association to file the official complaint are Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, the nation’s top-selling natural brand of liquid and bar soap, Intelligent Nutrients, a pet project in purity by the founder of Aveda, and Organic Essence, a pioneer in bio-degradable packaging. You might wonder why these companies would not just let sleeping dogs lie and get on with their own businesses rather than getting embroiled in a legal fracas. Well, each manufacturer in the rapidly growing organic care category has a vested interest in the practice and performance of its competitors. If certain companies misrepresent themselves to consumers and do not comply with the same regulations as the brands that can boast hard-earned organic stripes, they deserve to be held accountable.

Over the years, the efforts of the Organic Consumers Association and its allies have been thwarted time and again by the traditionally hands-off approach of the USDA’s National Organic Program regarding the cosmetics industry. It seemed that no amount of lobbying would persuade the USDA to extend the stringent standards overseeing organic food to personal care products. Now, with increased staffing and funding allocated to the program under Obama’s administration, the future of organic cosmetics is looking up.

The federal complaint was filed against the following manufacturers and product lines:

The Hain Celestial Group, Inc- makers of Jason “Pure, Natural & Organic” and “Avalon Organics” products

Kiss My Face Corporation- makers of “Kiss My Face Organic” products

Levlad, LLC- makers of “Nature’s Gate Organics” products

YSL Beauté, Inc- makers of “Stella McCartney CARE 100% Organic Active Ingredients” products

Giovanni Cosmetics, Inc- makers of “Giovanni Organic Cosmetics,” “Giovanni Organic Body Care” and “Giovanni Organic Hair Care” products

Cosway Company, Inc- makers of “Head Organics” products

Country Life, LLC- makers of “Desert Essence Organics” products

Szep Elet LLC- makers of “Ilike Organic Skin Care” products

Eminence Organic Skin Care, Inc- makers of “Eminence Organic Skin Care” products

Physicians’ Formula Holdings, Inc- makers of “Organic Wear” products

Surya Nature, Inc- makers of “Sapien Organic” products

Organic Bath Company- makers of “Organic Bath” and “Organic Baby’ products

Freeman Beauty Division- makers of “Freeman Goodstuff Organics” products

A few of the manufacturers under scrutiny have had it coming for years. We heard rumblings directed at Jason and Avalon long before they erupted in a full-blown battle. Needless to say, we were not pleased to find among the list of offending brands a detoxifying mask and sun cream, a well-liked face scrub, a favorite body wash, and a recommended hair spray from past reviews. It goes to show that you can’t believe everything you read, whether it’s buzz words on an item’s packaging or tangible ingredients spelled out on the label. We do our best to sort through the rubbish to give you the honest truth.

An enlightening document, the full federal complaint outlines the exact ingredients in product examples from each offender and identifies how they infringe regulations. We owe it to our bodies and all the honorable organic brands out there to be educated consumers.

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Have you ever wondered what you would look like post-plastic surgery? Do you think about the shape of your nose or the fullness of your lips constantly? Do you own an iPhone or iPod Touch? If the answer to these questions is – YES! – then you might be in luck, because Board-certified, Miami-based plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer, has just released his much-anticipated app, iSurgeon. According to Dr. Salzhauer’s people, iSurgeon is “the most advanced beauty makeover app available in the iTunes App store,” combining personal image modification with high-tech gaming functionality. Beauty and gaming together at long last? Say it ain’t so.

Depending on whether you download the lite or pro version, iSurgeon has different levels of interactivity. (1) Game Mode gives you the opportunity to virtually don the plastic surgeon’s white coat and simulate one of four procedures to meet your avatar’s desires: Rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, or Brazilian butt lift. (2) Advanced Surgery Mode allows you to take pictures of yourself, friends, enemies, or strangers and see what they would look like after a creative session on the operating table. The app even permits you to conveniently share your results via email or Facebook. So now, instead of telling your boyfriend about the boobs you have always wanted, you can show him. Talk about instant gratification – for the both of you.

Confused about how iSurgeon works? Check out the Dr. Salzhauer-led tutorial on YouTube in which he walks you through the game’s features with the assistance of a volunteer. He shows you how to take a picture – by pointing his camera phone at a young lady – and then he demonstrates the power of the app by manipulating the photo on the screen while explaining, “you can either make her look prettier – by making her nose look smaller, let’s say…” (At this point the young woman’s facial expression goes from emotionless to “Hey, wait a minute, what did he just say?” as she laughs in disbelief). The video barely scrapes the surface of what sort of damage iSurgeon is capable of wreaking on an innocent photo in profile or – perhaps even more frighteningly – a full body shot.

Let’s be honest – This app is bound to be put towards more sinister purposes than getting a preview of potential plastic surgery results. Anything goes, whether you want to test out a receding hairline or a triple chin. Because the touchscreen technology doesn’t offer much in terms of precision, more often than not the image deteriorates into a blurry blob. Think Photoshop meets a funhouse hall of mirrors…on acid. And the jarring sound effects that blare in the background don’t make the experience any more enjoyable. It’s hard to imagine anyone taking the experimental surgery seriously, especially when the game doles out an arbitrary score based on the time spent “operating” and provides a cheeky assessment such as: “Not bad for a sushi-chef, but not ready for human beings.”

Having never entertained notions of myself giving or getting cosmetic surgery, I have to admit I was curious, and so I tried out iSurgeon both in Game Mode and Advanced Surgery Mode with a personal photo. I ended up disturbed at how deformed I could look with a few finger strokes and frustrated at how impossible it was to correct my mistakes. iSurgeon seems like the next generation of the battery-powered board game Operation, except instead of losing the game when you hit an edge with the tweezers, you lose your dignity.

I think iSurgeon is one of the many examples of a bad concept brought to life by technology. If you are actually considering plastic surgery – an expensive and potentially life-threatening endeavor – wouldn’t it be best to discuss the possibilities and realities of such a procedure in person with a medical professional? Allowing potential plastic surgery clients to mess around with their virtual appearances seems a tad like playing with fire. Are we really close to a day when tech-savvy individuals go to their doctor wielding a handheld device with a completely revamped version of their face, and request the same results in real life?

But in reality, iSurgeon is not going to attract players legitimately interested in going under the knife. With its sassy tone and social media sharing features, the app clearly targets young people, who are already self-conscious enough without finding pictures of themselves with a nose job floating around the internet. iSurgeon encourages a blatant form of facial and bodily butchery. So now the next time you see an iPod pointed in your direction, you have an alarming reason to turn away.

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