A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine has revealed something absolutely amazing about the role of the Sun in human health: a deficiency of sunlight could be as harmful to human health as smoking cigarettes The study titled, "Avoidance of sun exposure as a risk factor for major causes of death: a competing risk analysis of the Melanoma in Southern Sweden cohort," was conducted by Swedish researchers on a population of almost 30,000 women. They assessed the differences in sun exposure as a risk factor for all-cause mortality, within a prospective 20-year follow up of the Melanoma in Southern Sweden (MISS) cohort. The women were aged 25-64 years at the start of the study and recruited from 1990 to 1992. When their sun exposure habits were analyzed using modern survival statistics they discovered several things. Because cancer risk increases along with biological age, the longer you live, the higher your cancer risk will be. Therefore, because increased sunlight exposure actually increases your longevity, it will also appear to increase your risk of cancer. But this does not necessarily mean that sunlight is intrinsically "carcinogenic," which is commonly assumed. "Nonsmokers who avoided sun exposure had a life expectancy similar to smokers in the highest sun exposure group, indicating that avoidance of sun exposure is a risk factor for death of a similar magnitude as smoking."

Cinnamon Cinnamon has been used to flavor foods and beverages for thousands of years. There are many types of cinnamon, but the most common varieties are Ceylon or "true" cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), grown primarily in Sri Lanka, and cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum), which is grown throughout southeast Asia. The bark is stripped and peeled to harvest spice-grade cinnamon, while the leaves, flowers and fruits of the plant are used in cooking as well as traditional herbal remedies. The type of cinnamon plant as well as the method of harvest are important factors in both taste and health effects. Rich in antioxidants, Cassia cinnamon has been used topically as an insect repellent, while Ceylon cinnamon is promoted as a dietary supplement for GI upset. While most people are unlikely to overconsume cinnamon, when taking supplemental quantities, it's important to ingest only the Ceylon variety, preferably organically grown. Cassia cinnamon contains a chemical called coumarin, which can be harmful to the liver. One of the most studied health conditions for which cinnamon has shown promise is Type 2 diabetes mellitus. A 2011 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Medicinal Food determined that cinnamon intake results in a statistically significant lowering of fasting blood glucose levels for people with Type 2 diabetes and/or prediabetes. Another benefit of cinnamon for diabetics and prediabetics is cinnamon's ability to lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Cinnamon also has clinically demonstrated antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties. Nutmeg Used in sweet and savory dishes around the world, nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is a spice that has been valued for centuries. Closely related to mace, nutmeg is the seed of the plant and mace, the dried covering around the seed. Native to Indonesia and a fundamental commodity on the Silk Road spice trade, nutmeg is now widely grown across the tropics. Nutmeg has a unique flavor profile, mixing warm, exotic notes with an aromatic pungency; it's so potent, nutmeg was once thought to ward off the plague. Other purported health benefits have been substantiated in modern times, making this spice a truly valuable component of both your spice cabinet and your herbal apothecary. Some benefits of nutmeg that are backed by science include:

1. Firmer, More Elastic Skin Although avocados are technically a fruit, they're more akin to vegetables from a nutritional standpoint. With an abundance of monounsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid, and phytochemicals like lutein, zeaxanthin, phytosterols, vitamins E and A, niacin and folate, they're uniquely suited to supply your body with an abundance of healing nutrition. "The natural combination of carotenoids, lutein, and zeaxanthin, along with the unsaturated fatty acids, provides a superior combination that increases the carotenoid absorbability. It has been demonstrated that these carotenoids have the ability to reach and concentrate at the skin," noted a team of researchers from the University of California Los Angeles and the David Geffen School of Medicine. The team studied 39 overweight women between the ages of 27 and 73, who ate their regular diets with or without a daily avocado for eight weeks. At the end of the study, the avocado group had firmer, more elastic skin on their forehead compared to those who didn't eat the fruits. It's possible the carotenoids in the avocado helped ward off skin aging by stimulating cells known as fibroblasts to make collagen and elastin, along with offering anti-inflammatory effects and providing protection against ultraviolet light. 2. Improved Cognitive Health Avocados are an excellent source of lutein, a carotenoid that's well-known for its role in vision health, as it helps filter blue light and may also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Lutein concentrates in the macular area of the retina, and lutein levels in the retina are associated with lutein levels in the brain. Meanwhile, lutein concentrations in the brain are associated with positive measures of cognitive function. A study of older adults tested the effects of avocado intake on cognition, with subjects consuming one avocado, one potato or one cup of chickpeas daily for six months. The avocado group increased their lutein levels by 25%. They also had increased macular pigment density (MPD), a biomarker for lutein levels in the brain, which was associated with improved working memory and better efficiency in approaching a problem.

You can completely heal yourself, no matter the issue. The ancients all knew this. But modern medicine convinced us that we are broken and need their pills to fix us. However, if a fish is sick, you don't blame the fish; you clean the tank. And then you give the fish what it needs to thrive. The same goes for humans. We're all sick today because we're living in toxic environments and deficient in the nutrients needed to repair. Seed oils, artificial lights, air pollution, toxic fragrances, pesticides, endocrine disruptors, overstimulated nervous systems...we are swimming in the most toxic soup in history. We are all basically walking dumpsters. And then deficient in the nutrients critical for detox, repair, and regeneration. That is why I do what I do. To put together the ancient traditions that we've all lost access to. To remind people that we can heal and that you are not the problem (well, unless you're vegan and guzzling seed oils). And to give them the foods and nutrients they need to repair and regenerate.