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                      Natural Extract Makes Perfect Sunscreen

                      Published by Dr. Mark Rosenberg

                      I’m sure you’re as done with winter this year as I am.  With all the snow and frigid weather that many parts of the country have had, I can’t wait to see summer officially arrive in a few short months.  But with the Sun starting to come out more often, you’ll have to start protecting your skin with a sunscreen.  That’s why I want to tell you about an amazing new study that has discovered a whole new natural sunscreen, without side effects, and with near-complete U-V protection.

                      Licorice Extract Protects Your Skin from U-V Damage

                      As a kid, I used to love licorice – red or black, didn’t matter.  I used to eat it whenever I could.  Now, as an adult, and a doctor, I still eat licorice as a special treat here and there, but I’ve  learned that my childhood favorite is actually a powerful medicine.

                      Yes, that’s right. The root extract from the Glycyrrhiza inflata plant, that gives us licorice, has actually been used for centuries by Chinese and Indian physicians to heal stomach pain.  In recent times, it has been found that licorice extract also helps heal stomach ulcers, control blood sugar levels, and fight viral infections like herpes simplex.

                      Licorice has also been proven effective at fighting the mouth bacteria that causes tooth decay and gum disease.  Now researchers out of Germany have discovered another amazing healing property of licorice.  Turns out, it’s also a powerful U-V ray blocking sunscreen.

                      In fact, licorice root mimics the effects of the strongest, manufactured sunscreens. Here’s how licorice works to save your skin from the sun:

                      For starters, you may not know this, but you have certain skin cells that act as a natural sunscreen.  When you go out in the sun the antioxidant properties of these cells activate to protect your skin from U-V ray damage.  They also become activated when your skin is exposed to other environmental toxins like pollution, chemical toxins and poor air quality like smog and auto exhaust.

                      Now, researchers have found a way to isolate the active antioxidant in licorice (Licochalcone-A) to use as a powerful, topical, natural sunscreen.  They found that licorice extract actually stimulates the antioxidant releasing properties of your natural protective skin cells.  Here’s how they did it…

                      In the study, researchers took two sets of human skin cells and exposed them to solar light to mimic natural sun exposure.  The skin cells that were previously treated with the licorice extract produced much more of their protective, natural antioxidant molecules.  There were fewer destructive free radicals seen in the licorice-treated skin cells.  This means most of the skin cells’ DNA were not damaged.

                      They concluded that licorice helps your skin develop a powerful shield against U-V ray damage.  With the added stimulation from licorice, the protection is the same as using a SPF-50 sunscreen, blocking all but 2% of the sun’s U-V rays.  All without the side effects that many synthetic sunscreens have.

                      Licorice also has anti-inflammatory, and re-hydrating properties which helps cool down and return moisture to sun-reddened skin.  It’s also proven effective against soothing the itch and redness of many skin rashes, particularly eczema, rosacea and atopic dermatitis.

                      Licorice also blocks the stimulation of melanin, the darkening pigment in your skin that allows you to achieve a tan.  Melanin can also create dark “age spots” from sun exposure as you get older.  Licorice, applied topically in a facial cream, acts to lighten age spots, acne scars, and over-tanned skin.  It also fights aging as it provides superior antioxidant properties to the skin.

                      How To Get the Skin Protection Benefits of Licorice Extract

                      Now don’t grab a bag of licorice candy before you head out for the sun thinking it will protect your skin.  There’s actually very little true licorice extract in licorice candy.  And, even though true licorice extract comes in capsule, or chewable tablets, and tea bags, your skin will get the best sunscreen, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory benefits of licorice from a topical cream or gel.

                      Though I can’t vouch for the performance of these products, I’ve done a little searching for you and have found several commercial topical skin cream products that contain licorice extract. Research shows that products that contain 2% licorice extract seem to work the best. You may have to try a few to see which ones work best for you. Here are a few:

                      1.  Kiss My Face brand, Sunscreen SPF 50.

                      2.  Herbal Mineral brand, Licorice Brightening Sunscreen SPF 20++

                      3.  Marie Veronique Organics Serum

                      4.  PCA Skin Perfecting Protection SPF 30

                      5.  Sunkroma SPF 50 Cream

                      6.  Pratima Ayurvedic SPF 50 Suncreen

                      Other skin care products to get licorice’s anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, dark spot lightening benefits include:

                      1.  Source Naturals brand, Skin Eternal DMAE Cream

                      2.  NOW brand, Dermal Soothing Cream

                      3.  Making Cosmetics brand, Licorice Extract

                      4.  Eucerin brand, Redness Relief

                      5.  Cetaphil brand, Derma Control Moisturizer

                      All these products are available online.  You may also find them locally in health food/vitamin stores, or large department store skin care aisles.

                      The important thing to remember in protecting your skin against U-V ray damage is to be proactive in protecting your skin.  Limit your exposure to the sun at its strongest times, 10 a.m. through 2 p.m., wear a protective sunscreen, and protective clothing like a visor cap and sunglasses.  If your skin is fair and more prone to sunburn, in addition to sunscreen you may want to wear a light colored, long sleeved, cotton shirt, pants for any activity longer than a half hour out in direct sun.

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                      Dr. Mark Rosenberg
                      Dr. Mark Rosenberg
                      Dr. Mark Rosenberg received his doctorate from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1988 and has been involved with drug research since 1991. With numerous certifications in several different fields of medicine, psychology, healthy aging and fitness, Dr. Rosenberg has a wide breadth of experience in both the public and private sector with particular expertise in both the mechanism of cancer treatment failure and in treating obesity. He currently is researching new compounds to treat cancer and obesity, including receiving approval status for an investigational new drug that works with chemotherapy and a patent pending for an oral appetite suppressant. He is currently President of the Institute for Healthy Aging, Program Director of the Integrative Cancer Fellowship, and Chief Medical Officer of Rose Pharmaceuticals. His work has been published in various trade and academic journals. In addition to his many medical certifications, he also personally committed to physical fitness and is a certified physical fitness trainer.

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                      This website is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. FoodTrients – A Recipe for Aging Beautifully Grace O, author and creator of FoodTrients® -- a philosophy, a cookbook and a resource -- has a new cookbook dedicated to age-defying and delicious recipes, The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World, which provides one hundred-plus recipes that promote health and well-being. The recipes are built on foundations of modern scientific research and ancient knowledge of medicinal herbs and natural ingredients from around the world. Since the publication of her first anti-aging book, The Age GRACEfully Cookbook, Grace O has identified eight categories of FoodTrients benefits (Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Immune Booster, Disease Prevention, Beauty, Strength, Mind, and Weight Loss) that are essential to fighting aging, which show how specific foods, herbs, and spices in the recipes help keep skin looking younger, prevent the diseases of aging, and increase energy and vitality. Grace O combines more exotic ingredients that add age-fighting benefits to familiar recipe favorites.

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