Think about this: the emphasis in breast cancer research is on finding a cure despite experts' beliefs that the urgency is in finding the cause -- after all, one in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer today while back in the 1940s, it was one in 22 women. That means that, despite the billions -- billions -- of dollars raised for research, the number of women with breast cancer has almost tripled. Something is obviously wrong. Unfortunately, though, it's the cures which will reap financial benefits: after all, cures mean products -- pills, shots, medications -- which are a dream come true for the pharmaceutical companies. The cause angle, on the other hand, is a little tricky for the corporate sponsors -- especially since many of them are likely to be the actual culprits.  Read the full story

We are a culture obsessed with beauty and youth, yet many of us create an environment within our bodies that is counterproductive to achieving healthy beauty. To achieve beauty, you must first define what it means to you.  Read the full story

To help reduce rising rates of skin cancer from overexposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun, the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day as “Don’t Fry Day” to encourage sun safety awareness and to remind everyone to protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors. Because no single step can fully protect you and your family from overexposure to UV radiation, follow as many of the following tips as possible.  Read the full report

New research by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientists suggests that purple vegetables are associated with higher levels of antioxidants, which can help reduce the risk of some types of cancer and heart disease. Dr. Rong Cao of AAAFC and a team at the Guelph Food Research Centre suggest vegetables high in anthocyanins have an even stronger antioxidant activity than other varieties of the same vegetable.  Read the full report

From: Solage Calistoga 

From romantic retreats to girls' getaways, discover a collection of specially designed experiences in the heart of Wine Country to help you make the most of your time at Solage Calistoga. All experiences include an opportunity to experience Marie Veronique Organics' exclusive, natural spa facial treatments. Learn more

After 21 years of wrangling over health threats, uncertain science and industry pressure, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday released its assessment of dioxins defining how toxic they are. Lauded by environmental activists and criticized by industry, the report concluded that there are potentially serious effects at ultra-low levels of exposure. Nevertheless, the EPA said that exposures have declined so much in the past two decades that most people are safe. "Today’s findings show that generally, over a person’s lifetime, current exposure to dioxins does not pose a significant health risk," EPA officials said. One scientist called that statement "very odd" because it discounts the threat to people who have higher exposures and those, such as babies, who are at higher risk of effects. Studies have linked dioxins to cancer, disrupted hormones, reproductive damage such as decreased fertility, neurological effects, immune system changes and skin disorders. Most people on Earth have traces in their bodies, and they are exposed mostly through fish, meat and other animal products. Read the full report

Latest from the MVO Blog 

L-ascorbic acid, aka Vitamin C, delivers many benefits, particularly when it comes to our skin. One of the most extensively studied of the anti-oxidants, in vivo and in vitro studies all conclude that L-ascorbic acid is one of the very few cosmeceuticals to actually live up to its claims. Vitamin C, used properly, delays, prevents and repairs visible skin damage by protecting against photo-aging and minimizing free radical damage. Read the full article