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What’s hot in natural health right now

Cleansing with liquid gold

What’s good for our insides can also benefit our outsides—makes sense, right? Turns out that apple cider vinegar (ACV), the superfood used for centuries as a home remedy, disinfectant, and preservative, may also be a great choice for cleansing your skin.

Beauty buffs are all over it, combining diluted ACV (as undiluted ACV can cause chemical burns—a little goes a long way!) with soothing ingredients like lavender, aloe vera, sage, and other botanical heavyweights to ease common skin conditions, like atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema. But how can this regular pantry staple be a star of your cosmetic cabinet as well?

ACV has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial characteristics, making it useful in fighting bacterial and fungal infections. ACV’s acidity is also believed to help regulate the skin’s natural acidic barrier, supporting a healthy skin microbiome in the process. So, go on and get your glow on with this golden gift from nature!

Finding balance in your fitness routine

It’s said that life is all about balance, and this is certainly true when it comes to how you tackle your fitness routine. A fitness apparatus that became popular in the 1950s, it seems balance training boards are here to stay.

The goal? To keep the board from touching the ground for extended periods of time. While you’re exercising your body’s equilibrium and steadiness, you’re also training your core muscles and leg strength—perfect if you love surfing or any type of board sport.

Over time, more advantages from using balance training boards have been discovered. The challenge of balancing improves your brain’s control systems, sensory tools, and postural awareness. Balance trainers are also beneficial for rehabilitation and for those with impaired motor functions.

Modern balance trainers are engineered to be refined and durable and come in a variety of sizes Bonus: They come in loads of snazzy designs, too. Surf’s up!

Turmeric, top of mind

If you’re looking to add a brain-healthy spice to your diet, make it turmeric. This spice crosses the blood-brain barrier, bringing with it antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that help brain health in three different ways: attention, focus, and memory.

In fact, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, tested the effects of turmeric on memory and attention in adults (who didn’t already have moderate or advanced dementia). Half took a turmeric supplement and half took a placebo. Those who took the turmeric supplement experienced marked improvement in memory and attention. Plus, they noted a decrease in proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease. These benefits are thanks to curcumin, a micronutrient in turmeric that has also been linked to treatment of mental illness, like anxiety. Pretty encouraging, right?

Because turmeric is relatively affordable, these findings are promising! If you’re looking to try turmeric, first work with your doctor to figure out the right dose and then stock up at your natural health retailer.

The use of green tea for skin health is nothing new. Research has shown its catechins may effectively neutralize free radicals and boost enzymatic detoxification. Not to mention its potential to repair DNA damage from UV exposure.

It’s no wonder that matcha—green tea’s powdered and much more concentrated form—is gaining attention as a skincare wonder. Rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, matcha might just be your new fave!

Green tea is potentially effective at soothing psoriasis, dermatitis, and rosacea, and its polyphenols can reduce skin irritation, redness, and sunburns. It can also control bacterial growth and reduce sebum secretion—major culprits of acne.

Next time your skin needs a pick-me-up, try throwing on a matcha mask! Because, despite what Kermit the Frog has said, it might be easy being green after all.