#beespecies | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

culiuniversal · 7 years

Text

9 Supplements to Treat Your Eczema

Possible causes of eczema: improper skin barrier-function, over activity of the immune system, genetics, hormones, diet, skin microbiome dysbiosis

Probiotics are ingested bacteria that reside in the gut sold as a dietarysupplement. Prebiotics are supplements, usually fermentable fibers, that support and proliferate bacteria in the gut. Prebiotics can be thought of as “food” for the gut. Synbiotics are dietary supplements that contain both probiotics and prebiotics.The gut and its connection to the rest of our health (includingdepression, immune system health, anxiety, digestive health, and muchmuch more) is one of the most exciting areas of research right now. Didyou know that roughly 37% of your microbial diversity may be due to your genetics? There’s still so much we don’t know about the microbiome andso much we don’t know about how different people react to differentstrains. Some probiotics still show benefits despite being dead orinactive. Some people react better to probiotics foods than pills andsome people have the opposite reaction. It’s important to keep in mindthe many factors that determine how you will react to a strain orprobiotic. However, a recent meta-analysis1 of synbiotics investigated their efficacy in preventing atopicdermatitis. They found that children who took probiotics were less thanhalf as likely to develop eczema as those who didn’t. They also foundsignificant decreases in symptoms of eczema when synbiotics with mixedstrains were used as a treatment.

Fish Oil is a general health supplement that you should probably already betaking. Fish is the best source of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fattyacids DHA and EPA. Your omega-3 intake should be balanced with your omega-6 intake in about at about a 1:1ratio, whereas the average ratio for an American is about a 1:162 (partly due to the overconsumption of vegetable oil, red meats, animals that are fed grain-based feed, and eggs). Omega-3 fatty acids arepowerful anti-inflammatory chemicals and the imbalanced intake is themain contributor to many of the inflammatory diseases that plaguespost-industrial societies. Fish Oil supplementation can cause hugedecreases in triglycerides, has notable decreases on symptoms ofdepression, reduces blood pressure, inflammation, cortisol, and symptoms of ADHD. It’s also been shown to have a number of benefits to skinhealth. For example, studies have shown very notable decreases insymptoms of Lupus Erythematosus. Supplementation of EPA can also reducerisk of sunburn and increase the time required before reddening of theskin begins to occur. Studies have also shown a significant decrease insymptoms of eczema after supplementation of fish oil with 1.8g of EPA3.

Vitamin D has been shown to be a particularly useful treatment for symptoms ofatopic dermatitis. Furthermore, although the underlying causes of atopic dermatitis aren’t fully understood, an emerging body of evidence points to the conclusion that a vitamin D deficiency may be a majorcontributing factor. Without exposure to sunlight, vitamin D may beespecially hard for vegans and vegetarians to obtain as the onlysignificant plant source of it is mushrooms. It’s commonly found infatty fish, egg yolks, shrimp, oysters, and fish oil. Since Vitamin D is fat soluble, it can be consumed with some coconut oil or paired with fish oil.

Vitamin B3, aka Niacin, is an essential B-vitamin. Topical applications of 4% niacinamide gelhas shown notable decreases in acne and some increases in healing ofburns. It also appears to decrease reddening of the skin, increase skinelasticity, decrease pigmentations in hyperpigmented spots, slightlydecrease appearance of crow’s feet, and increase overall skin quality.

Feverfew is an herb that is most well-known for its anti-migraine function. It’s more effective than placebo at preventing migraines which is surprising because placebo can have powerful anti-migraine effects. It might havesynergistic effects with white willow or ginger. It also has potent anti-inflammatory effects (possibly more potent than ibuprofen) and has anti-cancer mechanisms. It has shown notable effects at reducing erythema with a topical application. Some people may beallergic to the parthenolide found in the plant.

Milk Thistle is commonly used as a liver therapeutic. Studies have shown significant decreases in lesion counts after supplementation of silymarins (theactive ingredients in milk thistle) for at least 8 weeks. It may be very effective for acne vulgaris, but there is little research on itseffects on eczema.

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is one of the few antioxidants that are actually effective whensupplemented. Though many detoxifying supplements make the claim, NAC is one of the only ones that can actually remove heavy metals from thebody. It is often used for a variety of cognitive health uses includingtreating drug addiction, reducing irritability and obsession, andprotecting against cognitive decline. For acne, a randomized controlledtrial showed a significant reduction in total lesion count aftersupplementing NAC for at least 8 weeks.

Licorice are Glycyrrhiza plants which have protective flavonoids that confer avariety of benefits. Licorice supplements often contain glycyrrhizinwhich decreases testosterone and increases cortisol. One study showedsupplementation of Licorice to decrease size and pain associated withcanker sores. Another chemical found in licorice, glabridin, has beenshown to decrease erythema from UVB exposure when applied topically.

Cocoa Extract is of interest because of its high epicatechin content. Epicatechinworks at the rate-limiting step of nitric oxide production to increaseblood flow to the brain and reduce blood pressure. This also makes cocoa extract effective for preventing cognitive decline in older adults andprotecting kidneys due to improved oxygenation. Cocoa extract has alsobeen shown to confer many skin benefits. Randomized, controlled trialshave shown significant protection from UV-induced skin damage. Slightincreases in skin elasticity have also been noted. However, there ismixed evidence whether cocoa extract increases or decreases acne.

Other things to try: avoid scratching, try different diets that improves your immune system, reduce stress, exercise, topical moisturizing creams, avoid certain soaps and perfumes, avoid chlorine, don’t wear wool clothing, phototherapy, get plenty of sleep, increase your ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid consumption, topical probiotics, go to the beach (saltwater is good)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26810481 ↩︎

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17045449 ↩︎

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3834680/ ↩︎

0 notes

viralhottopics · 7 years

Text

5 places that stole my heart in 2016

Tourists look at the Inca citadel of Macchu Picchu in Peru.

Image: AP Photo/Martin Mejia, File

For a lot of people, 2016 was the kind of year that warranted a lot of getting away. So its no surprise that for me, a professional jet-setter, most of the years highlights were far away from home. Here are the five places that stole my travel-editing heart over the last 12 months some classic, some new, but all ones you should consider for yourself, too.

Early gets the #tlpicks #tleditors #heaven

A photo posted by Nikki Ekstein (@nikkiekstein) on Mar 20, 2016 at 9:23am PDT

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Id long overlooked Cabo as a nightlife hub that was way farther from New York than low-slung Tulum. But Im officially a convert to whats really one of the great resort destinations on earth, second only to such places as Phuket or the South Pacific. Truth is, Cabo has some of the most compelling farm-to-table projects in Mexico, a ubiquitous knack for fried fish tacos, andsince they were all redone right after Hurricane Odile struck in 2014one of the highest concentrations of gleaming, new five-star resorts under the sun. Pile on Cabos natural splendor (stunning rock formations, cliffside beaches, whale watching, waterfalls, you name it) and its propensity for excellent swim-up bars, and youll find a place where its hard to complain about anything.

Recreate my trip: Plan a long weekend in Cabo as a respite to cold winter temps. Thats when youll have the best chance at spotting mama and baby whales in the Sea of Cortez. Angle for a stay at One & Only Palmilla, where youre waited on hand-and-foot in unparalleled fashion, or Auberges Esperanza, for more of a romantic honeymoon vibe.

Calm before the storm. @pure_theshow #changeworlds

A photo posted by Nikki Ekstein (@nikkiekstein) on Sep 12, 2016 at 2:21am PDT

Marrakesh, Morocco

My husband and I first visited Morocco as freshly minted college grads we spent less than $70 per night on accommodations that reliably took our breath away (not just because we were starry-eyed and unaccustomed to luxury). Its been one of our favorite trips.

Nearly a decade later, Marrakesh was every bit as spectacular as my memory had made it out to be, though this time, I saw it a little differently. First was the fact that I inadvertently arrived in time for Eid, a feasting holiday that involves the public slaughter of many, many sheep. I missed the bloodbath but saw plenty of the lead-up and spent several days chatting with taxi drivers and shop keepers about their celebrations. I tried my first hammam, which Id been loathe to do the first time around, since my then-boyfriend and I would have had to split up. (A friend described it to me as a gleeful regression to childhood, where youre being scrubbed like a baby at bath time. She hit the nail on its head.) And I made my best purchase of the year: a multi-colored, hand-woven rug from a collective in the Rif Mountains, which I found with the help of my local guide, Mohammad. The upgraded hotels were just icing on the cake.

Recreate my trip: The jaw-dropping resorts outside the old city may be tempting, but be sure to spend most of your trip in the medina itself. I loved my stay at the citys grand dame, La Mamounia, right outside the Djemaa El Fna its the epitome of an urban resort. Then, if you want to soak up some sun and escape the citys frenetic pulse, decamp to the palatial Mandarin Oriental, or better yet, head up to the Atlas Mountains for a taste of the Kasbah life.

Last day in the company of these cute critters. Today, Cuzco. Tomorrow, Bogota!

A photo posted by Nikki Ekstein (@nikkiekstein) on Nov 11, 2016 at 3:56am PST

Machu Picchu, Peru

My drive for visiting under-explored places took me to Ecuadors cloud forest and the coffee farms of Brazil long before I set sights on Machu Picchu, but the wait was worth it. It doesnt matter that youve seen hundreds of the exact same photos of this iconic world wonder in the flesh it still leaves you breathless. Plus, the photos dont show you that dozens of llamas still live in the Lost City of the Incas full-time, which I found terribly entertaining.

Recreate my trip: With so many incredible hikes in the Sacred Valley area, theres no need to join the crowds on the full-blown Inca Trail. Instead, take the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes and plan to get your park entry scanned by noon. That way, youll miss the morning crowds but still have time to walk the grounds twice for photos in both midday and afternoon light.

Springtime in Paris really is all it’s cracked up to beespecially when you catch accidental views like these, all awash in purple. Hard to say goodbye! . . . #travel #travelgram #travelpics #tlpicks #beautifuldestinations #paris #france #spring #vacation #europe

A photo posted by Nikki Ekstein (@nikkiekstein) on May 13, 2016 at 8:15pm PDT

Paris

Counter-intuitive as it sounds, Id never wanted to go to Paris more than I did in the wake of last years terrorism attacks. Tourism was plummeting and planning a trip felt like more than just a springtime indulgence; it was also my version of showing solidarity. Since tourism is still struggling to rebound in the City of Light, let me twist your arm to do the same: The croissants at Sebastien Gaudard will change your life, neo-bistros such as Clown Bar will make you feel like a (very well fed) local, and the citys most illustrious hotels are all ready to impress. To wit: the Ritz Paris came back online shortly after my visit, Rosewoods legendary Crillon will reopen this summer after a years-long renovation, and the Peninsula, where I stayed, has just been given palace designation. And whats more inspiring than this view of the Eiffel Tower surrounded by purple blooms?

Recreate my trip: Even if youre not sleeping in the 16th arrondissement, its worth going out of your way to hit Le Patisserie Cyril Lignac, where I ate the best sandwiches I think Ive ever tasted; theyre made with top-notch charcuterie and fresh-from-the-oven baguettes. Take them to the Jardins du Trocadro to get the view shown above, and then pay a visit to the grande dame of cheesemaking, Marie Anne Cantin, for a follow-up picnic in the 7th.

First view of the San Juans.

A photo posted by Nikki Ekstein (@nikkiekstein) on Jul 18, 2016 at 3:26pm PDT

The San Juan Islands, Washington

This little chain of islands off Washingtons northwest coast had something of a mythical appeal to me. Everyone I knew who had been there was taken by their beauty and bounty, but the islands seemed like places that simply had to speak for themselves. You just have to go, people would constantly say. So I did. As the ferry crawled from the port town of Anacortes to tinier-than-tiny Lopez Island, the land masses grew increasingly verdant and became draped in swooping clouds, as if we were sailing into a dream. Ultimately we landed somewhere straight out of the 1960s: a place where you can get burgers in red plastic baskets and ice cream from old-timey windows before hiking to a private beach cove with your free-loving Ph.D. neighbors.

Recreate my trip: Sorry, dear readers, this ones all mine. Sure, you can bypass Lopez for Lummi Island, where the acclaimed Willows Inn awaits. But Id highly advise bypassing the traditional hotel. Instead, befriend someone with relatives in the San Juans ideally ones with access to kayaks, which you can use to visit sea lions and fish for Dungeness crab. Then round up a group you love and go, en masse, for a back-to-basics getaway youll never forget.

BONUS: This German chef knife is made out of wood

This article originally published at Bloomberg here