Blood Test Analysis: The Cholesterol and Saturated Fat Issue Revisited

Alcohol and triglycerides don't go well together. (Photo by paulaloe)

I just got my yearly blood test results back last week. I would've liked to have had a much larger blood panel done, but healthcare being what it is, I had to settle for two tests: a vitamin D test and a cholesterol test.

This post is a report on my cholesterol levels and how they differ from the results of the previous blood test. Possible explanations for the changes are also discussed.

My old cholesterol levels

If you're a long-time follower of this blog, you may remember my high-fat diet experiment from a year and a half ago. Part of the idea behind the experiment was to see whether eating a diet high in fat (especially saturated fat) is bad for cholesterol. My cholesterol levels after the experiment were as follows:

LDL: 3 mmol/l (117 mg/dl)
HDL: 2.24 mmol/l (87.36 mg/dl)
Total: 5.7 mmol/l (222.3 mg/dl)
Triglycerides: 0.92 mmol/l (81.88 mg/dl)

For a more thorough summary of the experiment and its results, see this post. In any case, I was quite pleased with my cholesterol levels, despite the fact that official recommendations consider my total cholesterol to be a bit too high.

My current cholesterol levels

So how do the old levels compare with the new ones? Here's the data from the most recent blood test:

LDL: 2.4 mmol/l (93.6 mg/dl)
HDL: 2.67 mmol/l (104 mg/dl)
Total: 5.7 mmol/l (222.3 mg/dl)
Triglycerides: 1.5 mmol/l (133.5 mg/dl)

As you can see, total cholesterol has remained the same, but the ratio of LDL to HDL (which is much more important for health than total cholesterol) has improved from 1.34 to 0.9 – that is, HDL is actually higher than LDL.

Triglycerides have increased, which is bad of course, but I suspect this is due to a two-week drinking binge right before the measurement. Low-carb diets lead to lower triglyceride levels, and since my cholesterol levels in general had improved, this is the only explanation I can think of. Apparently even moderate alcohol consumption can lead to large changes in triglyceride levels (link). I probably should've had the blood test before my holiday instead of after it.

Dietary changes I've made

So what is the explanation behind this improved LDL/HDL ratio? Compared to my diet during the high-fat experiment, I've made the following changes:

- Less cream
- Less butter
- Less yoghurt
- Less cheese
+ More dark chocolate
+ More coconut milk
+ More red palm oil
+ More green tea

Even though I ended the experiment, my fat intake on a typical day is still very high. I also get a lot of saturated fat from chocolate, coconut milk, red palm oil and meat – so much that according to official standards I should probably be dead by now from all the "artery-clogging harmful fats". Thus, while I have gotten rid of much of the dairy I was consuming before, most of the fat I eat is still saturated, and fat is still the main constituent of my diet.

Other changes in lifestyle

In addition to these dietary changes, I've started taking vitamin D3 (2,000 IU daily for a few months, then 5,000 IU) and a multivitamin (2 capsules of Ortho-Core daily) regularly. I've also tried various other supplements, but most of the experiments have likely been too short to have had any effect on cholesterol. In addition, my exercise routine has shifted somewhat from resistance training to aerobic training (i.e. less gym and more running), but I doubt this would have much effect either.

And then there's of course intermittent fasting, which is one of the longest-running experiments on this blog. For the past few weeks I've been skipping breakfast and lunch, but before that, I was eating for 24 hours and then fasting for 24 hours. There is one study that suggested eating only one large meal instead of three smaller ones could be bad for cholesterol, but as I wrote in the post, there were some problems with this study. My hunch is that periods of fasting are either neutral or good for cholesterol.

Conclusion

Continuing to eat a diet high in fat, especially saturated fat, has improved my ratio of LDL to HDL. Though I don't believe the matter is as simple as labeling one "good cholesterol" and the other "bad cholesterol", I do think the ratio is a much better indicator of health risk than total cholesterol. In particular, high HDL appears to be very good, while the potential unhealthiness of LDL depends on the size of the LDL particles.

My diet is in stark contrast to official recommendations, which promote polyunsaturated fats and discourage the consumption of saturated fats and meat. As I've written before, the science does not appear to support the hopelessly outdated official position on fats and cholesterol. The pamphlet I got with my results actually warns never to eat coconut or organ meats but to eat as much candy as you want!

At least in my case, going against the grain has not resulted in any health problems – on the contrary, a higher HDL than LDL is a very good sign. Until I see clinical studies that show saturated fats are harmful, I'm not planning on making huge changes to my diet.

For more information on cholesterol and diet, see these posts:

Coconut Lowers LDL, VLDL and Triglycerides, Raises HDL
How Does Fructose Affect Triglyceride and Cholesterol Levels?
Niacin Raises HDL, Lowers LDL, VLDL & Triglycerides
Low-Carb vs. Low-Fat: Effects on Weight Loss and Cholesterol in Overweight Men

My Long Absence

I realize that I suddenly disappeared from this blog without explanation. You see, I've been serving as Mark Sanford's interpreter and Argentine travel guide. There just was no time to update my blog with those kinds of responsibilities.

I'll soon be back. ¡Hasta pronto!

Tea, Coffee and Cocoa: All Good for Your Teeth

The caffeine in coffee is good for dental health. (Photo by Ballistik Coffee Boy)

It may not come as a big surprise to you that green tea is good for dental health. After all, green tea is the miracle cure for pretty much anything, right?

If you're not a huge fan of green tea, worry not: there are other beverages out there that can do the same. In fact, if you're a long time follower of this blog, then you already know that not only green tea but also black tea helps prevent dental caries. Both are also good for the gums.

The good news doesn't stop there, however. A recent review found that in addition to tea, cocoa and coffee showed anti-cariogenic potential as well (link). The reason behind this effect is the polyphenol content in all three. Though each three has different polyphenols that work in different ways, they all appear to get the job done and improve oral health.

Cocoa and dental caries

According to the authors of the review, studies have shown that additing cocoa powder or chocolate to hamster diets reduces their caries incidence. Unsurprisingly, cocoa powder or dark chocolate works better than chocolate with high sugar and low cocoa levels. Water-soluble extracts of cocoa powder also inhibited caries formation in rats.

The two main strains of bacteria that cause caries are Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus mutans. Although the case is not entirely clear, cocoa polyphenols seem to inhibit the growth of the former but not the latter.

Cocoa also reduces plaque formation by inhibiting the enzyme dextransucrase, which forms plaque extracellular polysaccharides from sucrose. In one study, a mouth-rinse made from the ground husk of cocoa beans was effective in reducing plaque scores in children.

Coffee and dental caries

Roasted coffee beans were shown in two studies to be antibacterial against S. mutans. Coffee also appears to interfere with the adsorption of S. mutans to teeth. In another study, coffee did not inhibit the growth of the bacteria, but did reduce the adherence of bacterial cells to dental surface. In other words, while coffee might not kill the bacteria, drinking coffee could prevent it from sticking to your teeth.

The compounds in coffee that are most active in terms of dental health are trigonelline, caffeine and chlorogenic acid. It is possible that the anti-adhesive effect is due to the synergistic action of these (and other) chemicals in coffee.

Tea and dental caries

Since I've already covered the topic of tea and dental health in an earlier post, I'll just go over the review findings briefly here.

Tea polyphenols appear to protect from dental caries primarily through their anti-microbial action. While cocoa and coffee are mostly effective against the adhesion of bacteria on the surface of teeth, tea in addition actually inhibits the growth of several strains of Streptococcus. The polyphenols in tea also reduce the formation of plaque, the production of acidic compounds and the synthesis of glucan from sucrose. Importantly, commercial teas have been shown to inhibit salivary amylase activity, which may significantly reduce caries formation from foods with starch.

Green tea, black tea and oolong tea (which is somewhere between the two in terms of fermentation time) have all been shown to be beneficial for oral health. Even though white tea has not been studied, it very likely has much of the same benefits as green tea. Due to its light color, it may also stain teeth less than green or black tea.

Conclusion

Tea, coffee and cocoa are all beneficial for dental health. Tea appears to be the best choice, since the polyphenols in tea are not only able to inhibit the adherence of bacteria to teeth, but also prevent the growth of cariogenic bacteria.

Tea is also effective against S. sanguinis and S. mutans, the two main strains responsible for caries, while coffee and cocoa seem to only work against the latter. While the effects of coffee have only been tested in vitro, cocoa has been shown to prevent caries formation in animals and reduce plaque in humans.

For more information on oral health, see these posts:

The Role of Coenzyme Q10 in Oral Health
Whitening Teeth & Healing Gums – Experiment Update
Dental Health Effects of Green and Black Tea
Preventing Mouth Ulcers with Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste - Results after Two Months

The Bioavailability of Flax Lignans from Flax Seeds and Supplements

Adding flaxmeal to your breakfast is the cheapest way of getting lignans. (Photo by thepinkpeppercorn)

In the previous post, we looked at the studies on flax lignans and their possible effect on hair growth. As promised, in this post we'll be looking at the issue of bioavailability: how well flax lignans are absorbed and whether supplements or natural sources are the best way to go.

Lignan content of flax supplements

As mentioned in the previous post, the company that funded the only study measuring the effect of flax lignans on hair loss is called Acatris. This unpublished study found that LinumLife EXTRA, a flax lignan supplement, improved hair loss condition in 9 out of 10 males. There was no mention of bioavailability in the press release, however.

Another study done for Acatris suggests that flax lignans are indeed absorbed by the body, at least when using their LinumLife product (link). The researchers concluded that the lignans are absorbed and that they increase serum levels of enterolactone (ENL) and enteroldiol (END), which are what secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) is eventually metabolized into. A quote from the press release:

The men in the study received a daily dose of 1 gram of LinumLife, equivalent to 40 mg of SDG. Their serum END and ENL levels were measured at baseline, three months and six months. At baseline, their average levels were 115 nmol/L. At three months they had increased 25% to 145 nmol/L, and at six months were around 136 nmol/L.

The baseline levels were quite high because the participants were from Japan, where lignan intake from diet is much higher than in much of the Western world. Note that in this study they used LinumLife instead of LinumLife EXTRA, which contains more lignans per gram. LinumLife has 40 mg of SDG, which is the main lignan in flax, while LinumLife extra contains 50 mg. The rather limited press releases don't mention whether the higher concentration of lignans resulted in better absorption.

Lignan content of flax seeds

So now we have two studies from a supplement company saying that supplemental forms of lignans are bioavailable and grow hair in humans. But what about getting your daily dose of flax lignans directly from flax seeds?

The SDG concentrations in flax seed varies from about 1% to 3%. Since one tablespoon of ground flax seed weighs 7 grams, it contains between 70 mg and 210 mg of SDG. So one tablespoon would have at least as much SDG than the supplements.

Indeed, the LinumLife website does not claim better absorption from using their product than from consuming flax seeds. They only state that their product contains 10-30 times more lignans than flax oil or ground flax seeds. Therefore, it supplementing with flax lignans seems unnecessary and more expensive than simply consuming flax seeds.

For example, a (discontinued) flax supplement from Jarrow contains 60 capsules with 40 mg of SDG and costs about $10. An 18 oz (510 grams) can of organic flax meal costs about $5; for half the price, you get more portions (72 tablespoons, to be exact) with more SDG in each portion.

It's difficult to find reliable information on the lignan content of flax seed oil, but it appears that the oil contains very little to zero lignans (link, link). The reason is that the lignans are in the fiber portion of the seed, and the oil is very low in fiber. There are flax seed oils with added lignans, but how much lignans they actually contain and how bioavailable they are is unclear.

Improving the bioavailability of lignans from flax seeds

Unfortunately, there are no studies directly comparing whether lignans from supplements are absorbed differently than from flax seeds. While I remain somewhat sceptical, it is possible that the supplement form has superior bioavailability compared to flax seeds.

However, even if it was true, in my opinion the scale still tips in favor of ordinary flax seeds. First, just two tablespoons of flax seeds daily would provide 3-6 times more SDG than either LinumLife or LinumLife EXTRA. My guess is that this would more than compensate for poorer bioavailability.

Second, the bioavailability of lignans from flax seed can be increased dramatically by crushing or grinding the seeds (link). Crushing flax seeds is better than consuming whole flax seeds, but ground flax seeds (i.e. flax meal) are superior in terms of lignan absorption. That's good news, because while I find the taste of whole flax seeds somewhat unpleasant and the taste of flax seed oil (or linseed oil) downright disgusting, flax meal actually tastes quite nice.

In the study linked to above, the participants were given 0.3 grams of flax seeds per kg body weight. For a 70 kg person, this would mean 21 grams (or 3 tablespoons) and 210-630 mg of SDG. After 10 days of consuming ground flax seed, enterodiol and enterolactone levels increased from 1.9 to 103 nmol/L and from 9.5 to 167 nmol/L, respectively. That's a much greater increase than what was seen in the LinumLife study. There was no significant difference between men and women.

The authors also report that steady-state plateau concentrations of enterolactone and enterodiol are reached when the supplemental interval is less than ~17 hours. In other words, if you want to keep enterolignan levels high, you should consume ground flax seeds twice per day with at least 7 hours in between.

Conclusion

Consuming 40-610 mg of SDG, the main flax lignan, raises serum enterolactone and enterodiol levels significantly, which indicates that flax lignans are absorbed by the human body. Lignans are bioavailable both in supplement and natural form.

While the taste of flax seeds may be unpleasant to some people, a tablespoon of flax meal (ground flax seeds) actually contains more SDG than most supplements. The lignans in crushed and whole flax seeds are absorbed less effectively, however.

For more information on hair growth, see these posts:

Emu Oil and Hair Growth: A Critical Look at the Evidence
Hair Growth with Vitamin E Tocotrienols from Palm Oil – Experiment Conclusion
Sesame Seeds Increase Absorption of Vitamin E Tocotrienols by Up to 500%
Hyaluronic Acid for Skin & Hair – Experiment Conclusion

Do Flax Lignans Reduce Hair Loss from MPB?

The main lignan in flax seed may reduce 5-alpha-reductase. (Photo by AlishaV)

Flax seeds have several health benefits, but are they really helpful for hair growth? In this post, we'll look at the evidence behind the claims that flax seeds fight hair loss related to male-pattern baldness. And in case you decide to try it for yourself, the next post will deal with the subject of bioavailability and how to get the best bang for your buck.

Flax lignans and increased hair growth

The key ingredient in flax seed (sometimes spelled flaxseed and also known as linseed) are its lignans. Lignans are a group of phytoestrogens, which are found in grains, seeds and vegetables. The richest source of lignans is flax seed, the main lignan of which is secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG).

So how do these phytoestrogens affect hair growth? Currently, there is only one (unpublished) study claiming hair growth benefits from flax lignans (link). This study was done by a company named Acatris and used a product called LinumLife EXTRA, which provides 50 mg lignans per one 250 mg capsule. The full paper is unavailable, so here's a quote from the press release:

Over a six-month period, 10 men, between the ages of 20 and 70 and in varying stages of AGA, consumed one 250 mg capsule of LinumLife EXTRA. Photographs were used to document hair loss conditions at the beginning of the study. At the end of the test period, eight men reported modest improvement of their hair loss condition, one reported much improvement and one subject reported no effect. Initial effects were noticed, on average, within one to two months of starting supplementation with flax lignans and no side effects were reported. Throughout the study, the daily number of hairs lost decreased and 50 percent of subjects noticed a decrease in oil secretion in their scalp. More noticeable improvements were noted in subjects with more severe conditions of AGA.

That would mean a 90% success rate after just two months, which sounds very good. However, claims like this have been made before, and since this study wasn't published in any journal, I'd take the results with a grain of salt.

SDG, benign prostate hyperplasia and hair loss

If we assume that flax lignans do indeed promote hair growth, what is the mechanism through which it works?

Many supplements that are sold as hair loss cures have much more evidence behind them as treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) than actual hair growth remedies. The logic behind the marketing is that since dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a key factor in both BPH and hair loss, anything that works for BPH must also work for hair loss.

While there undoubtedly are drugs and supplements that treat both problems at once, it appears that the connection between BPH and hair loss is not as straightforward as one might think. Nonetheless, the fact that flax lignans seem to be effective for treating BPH gives us at least a hypothesis of how they might promote hair growth.

A randomized, double-blind clinical trial compared the effects of various doses (300 mg and 600 mg) of SDG on symptoms of BPH. This study found that levels of enterolactone and enteroldiol were significantly raised after supplementation, while prostate size was reduced (link). Notably, the authors conclude that the improvements in urinary symptoms from SDG were similar to those from androgen receptor blockers and more effective than 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.

The authors offer several explanations for how SDG might reduce BPH symptoms: enterolactone and enteroldiol may inhibit the activity of 5-alpha reductase, or SDG may affect male hormone receptor binding, or other compounds in flax seed extract such as coumaric acid glucoside or ferulic acid glucoside may play a role.

In any case, it seems to me that whatever the exact mechanism, any potential hair growth effects from flax seed are probably due to the main lignan being a phytoestrogen. If there are other pathways, we don't know what they are yet.

Interestingly, in dogs, both flax seeds and sunflower seeds were shown to provide temporary improvement in skin and hair coat (link). The authors speculate that the result is most likely due to an increase in serum polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels. This would probably not explain a reversal in hair loss in humans, however.

Conclusion

According to an unpublished study, 9 out of 10 men suffering from hair loss saw an improvement in their condition after taking a flax lignan supplement with 50 mg of lignans. Another study reported improvements in BPH symptoms from consuming 300-600 mg of SDG, the main flax lignan.

The mechanism through which flax lignans might work is not known, but a possible explanation is that SDG (a phytoestrogen) inhibits 5-alpha-reductase or androgen receptor binding.

For more information on hair growth, see these posts:

Bioactive Form of Silicon (BioSil) Improves Skin, Hair & Nails in Photoaged Women
Topical Ketoconazole (Nizoral) Increases Hair Growth in Mice
North African Plant Extract (Erica multiflora) Increases Hair Growth
Soy Protein Isolate Reduces DHT in Healthy Young Men

Soy Protein Isolate Reduces DHT in Healthy Young Men

Drinking soy milk shakes might reduce DHT in men. (Photo by lists&diagrams)

Last month, I wrote about a paper that suggested soy isoflavones reduce DHT and increase testosterone. I also promised to write blog posts about similar studies to get a better understanding of how soy affects androgen levels.

In the second study we'll be looking at, 35 men were given soy protein isolate or milk protein isolate for 2 months to see how it affected their reproductive hormone levels (link). There were two versions of the soy protein diet: the low-isoflavone and the high-isoflavone diet. Each participant was put on each of the three diets with a 28-day washout period in between them.

Composition of the diets

The low-isoflavone soy protein isolate contained 0.02 mg isoflavones/kg body weight, while the high-isoflavone isolate contained 0.72 mg/kg body weight. Mean soy isoflavone intakes were 1.64 mg and 61.7 mg, respectively, with the most abundant isoflavones being genistein and daidzein. The milk protein isolate contained no isoflavones.

A third of the participants were categorized as equol excretors (meaning their bodies were able to produce equol from soy isoflavones), which seems to be consistent with other studies. Especially from a hair loss perspective, equol shows great promise, but it's currently unclear whether it's possible to affect one's ability to produce equol.

Soy protein isolate and testosterone

Halfway through the experiment, testosterone levels were slightly lower in the low-isoflavone diet (19.8 nmol/L) than the high-isoflavone diet (22.0 nmol/L) and the milk protein diet (22.1 nmol/L). At the end of the experiment, there was no statistically significant difference between testosterone levels. Levels of free testosterone were similar during all three diets.

Soy protein isolate and DHT

Serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and was decreased by the low-isoflavone diet (1952 pmol/L) and the high-isoflavone diet (1962 pmol/L) compared to the milk protein diet (2155 pmol/L) at the end of the experiment. The ratio of DHT to testosterone was also decreased.

Soy protein isolate and other effects

At the end of the study, serum estradiol and estrone were increased by the low-isoflavone diet compared with the milk protein diet. Levels of SHBG, gonadotropins, and 3-alpha-AG (a marker of 5-alpha-reductase activity), did not vary significantly between the diets. DHEA-S was increased by the low-isoflavone diet, but DHEA levels were not significantly different.

Conclusion

Serum DHT was significantly reduced following the consumption of both a low-isoflavone and high-isoflavone soy protein isolate compared to a milk protein isolate. The reductions were 9.4% and 15%, respectively. The DHT/testosterone ratio was also decreased by 9.0% and 14%, respectively.

The reduction in the DHT/testosterone ratio suggests an inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase. However, 3-alpha-AG, a marker of 5-alpha-reductase activity, was not significantly affected. Levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were also not significantly different between the diets.

For more information on hair growth, see these posts:

Tea Tree Oil vs. Korean Red Ginseng – Hair Growth Battle Conclusion
North African Plant Extract (Erica multiflora) Increases Hair Growth
2% Nizoral Shampoo Increases Hair Growth More than 2% Minoxidil
Lygodium japonicum Promotes Hair Growth by Inhibiting Testosterone to DHT Conversion

Intermittent Fasting: Switching from Alternate-Day Fasting to Condensed Eating Window

Thankfully, coffee has zero calories. (Photo by Erik)

Time for another update on my intermittent fasting experiment, which has been running for 10 months now. As you probably know, intermittent fasting means alternating periods of eating with periods of fasting. The length of these periods varies depending on the type of intermittent fasting one does.

So far, I've been doing the 24/24 hour cycle, meaning that I eat for 24 hours and then fast for 24 hours. This is known also as alternate-day fasting (ADF) or every other day fasting (EOD). It has worked very well for me: the fasting periods are short enough for the hunger to be very bearable but long enough to (hopefully) see some long-term benefits such as improved insulin sensitivity and reduced mitochondrial damage. If you want to read more about what intermittent fasting is like in practice, I've written blog posts on my typical day and my typical high-fat, low-carb meal.

Starting yesterday, I've switched my eating schedule a little and experimented with another version of intermittent fasting, known as the condensed eating window. Essentially, this just means eating only during certain hours of the day. The difference to the 24/24 hour cycle is that the eating period does not continue onto the next day. A popularized version of this is the Fast-5 Diet, which promotes an eating window of 5 hours.

The way I do it is that I fast during morning and day and then break the fast when I get home from work. If I stop eating at midnight, this results in daily fasts of 16-18 hours and eating windows of 6-8 hours. So no breakfast and lunch but a big dinner and evening snacks.

There are various claims as to whether this kind of diet is healthy. One study suggested that eating only one big meal instead of the usual three may result in poorer insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance and slightly higher blood pressure. On the other hand, body weight and stress hormone levels were reduced.

As discussed in the links above, the methodology of the study seems somewhat suspect. In any case, I won't be eating just one huge meal, but spread my energy intake throughout the 6 to 8 hours. For weight loss purposes eating only once per day may work, but I'm attempting to maintain my weight.

For more information on diets and health, see these posts:

Intermittent Fasting: Understanding the Hunger Cycle
Low-Carb vs. Low-Fat: Effects on Weight Loss and Cholesterol in Overweight Men
The Effects of a High-Fat Diet on Health and Weight: Does It Raise Cholesterol?
How Does Fructose Affect Triglyceride and Cholesterol Levels?

BioSil for Skin, Hair & Nails – Experiment Update

Beer contains 10-40 mg of silicon per litre. (Photo by Bernt Rostad)

For the past two and a half months, I've been taking 5 drops of BioSil. The active ingredient in BioSil is choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid, a bioavailable form of silicon. The reason behind the experiment is that BioSil was shown in one study to improve skin, hair and nail quality after 20 weeks.

While the women in the study used 10 mg, Natrol recommends to take 5 mg (equal to 5 drops) for hair, skin and nails, so I've stuck with the lower dosage so far. As for hair thickness, I haven't seen any visible difference yet. A microscopic analysis might show different results, but to the naked eye, there's been no change in the thickness of individual hairs.

It's difficult to compare results in skin quality, since I have so many other experiments going on at the same time (see my topical vitamin C experiment and lutein experiment for examples). The only change that I've noticed is perhaps a slight decrease in nail brittleness. I can't be certain, but my fingernails may be a bit thicker than they were. The rate of growth is unchanged, however.

Since I'm impatient and anxious to see results, I'm going to double my dosage and go for 10 mg per day. The taste is pretty vulgar even with 5 drops, but anything for the sake of science, right? I'll report back when I've finished the bottle, which should take about a month or so.

Oh, and if you've used BioSil and have noticed a difference, feel free to drop a comment and let me know how many drops you used.

For more information on skin, hair and nails, see these posts:

Examining Possible Causes for Slower Wound Healing
Coconut Oil Is Better than Olive Oil for Atopic Dermatitis
Hyaluronic Acid for Skin & Hair – Experiment Conclusion
Emu Oil and Hair Growth: A Critical Look at the Evidence